Jesper Bratt scored twice, and Yegor Sharangovich netted the game-winner midway through the third period as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Florida Panthers 4-2 on Wednesday night, ending their six-game losing streak.
Tomas Tatar added an empty-net goal, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves for the Devils, who had been 0-5-1 since their last win at home against Chicago on Dec. 6.
“It feels great to win. The boys have been playing hard and deserved a better result in our games,” said Blackwood, who was making his first start since Nov. 3 due to a knee injury. It gets a little difficult when you pile up a couple of losses in a row. Sometimes, guys grip their sticks a little too tight and panic. We did a good job playing the right way.”
Eric Staal and Eetu Luostarinen scored for Florida, but the team has lost two straight and five of its last seven games. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves.
Bratt tied the game 2-2 with his second goal of the night and 12th of the season at 2:44 of the third period.
Sharangovich gave the Devils their first lead of the game at 10:10 of the third, deflecting a shot from Jonas Siegenthaler for his ninth goal of the season.
Tatar sealed the victory with an empty-netter with 39.1 seconds remaining, his eighth goal of the season.
“We needed a win,” said New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff. “We played several pretty good games inside of this and couldn’t find the back of the net. To come out, get a couple of goals in the third … it was important.”
Staal opened the scoring for Florida at 4:45 of the first period with his third goal of the season, his second in two games.
Bratt responded at 7:01, just five seconds into New Jersey’s first power-play opportunity.
Luostarinen put the Panthers ahead 2-1 on a power play with 3:48 left in the second period.
“We had to finish some plays around their net for sure,” said Florida coach Paul Maurice. “We did not move the puck as we wanted, but they do not give you much. We actually got more than they usually give in a game like that.”
Game Notes
- Panthers center Anton Lundell returned to the lineup after missing the past nine games due to illness and an upper-body injury.
- Florida captain Aleksander Barkov missed his second consecutive game with an apparent knee injury sustained Saturday against the Devils. Barkov skated on Wednesday morning and may return next week.
- The Panthers honored New Jersey assistant coach Andrew Brunette with a video tribute during a timeout in the first period. Brunette was an assistant coach for two seasons and served as Florida’s interim head coach last season, leading the team to the Presidents’ Trophy.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Host Boston on Friday night.
- Panthers: Visit the New York Islanders on Friday night.
