NEWARK, N.J. — Panthers coach Paul Maurice made the precise strikes earlier than the sport, the Florida Panthers did all the pieces proper for the primary 41 minutes after which they held on simply lengthy sufficient to get their first win of the season.
Sam Reinhart moved as much as the highest line and scored two objectives and the defending Eastern Conference champions held off a late rally by New Jersey in posting a 4-3 victory over the Devils on Monday evening.
“We wanted to win and we did everything we could and obviously they played really well in the third period,” Panthers heart Aleksander Barkov mentioned. “We didn’t shut them completely done but we got enough goals to defend the lead.”
Carter Verhaeghe and Niko Mikkola additionally scored objectives and Matthew Tkachuk had two assists for the Panthers, who had opened the season with losses at Minnesota and Winnipeg.
“We got to be a very close group last year,” Maurice mentioned of the staff that misplaced the Stanley Cup to the Vegas Goldens Knights. “Then you have seven new guys show up. So, we’re kind of putting them all together but we’re starting to have a little bit of fun with that.”
Sergei Bobrovsky carried a shutout into the third interval however noticed Erik Haula, Michael McLeod and Jesper Bratt tally to get New Jersey inside a objective with 2:23 to play. The 35-year-old, who has began all three video games this season, completed with 31 saves.
“He made some great saves, for sure at the end of the game, he made some really, really big saves there,” Devils ahead Tyler Toffoli mentioned. “It would have been nice to tie it up and give us a chance to get two points. But obviously we fell short.”
Vitek Vanecek completed with 26 saves regardless of spending the ultimate 4:14 on the bench because the Devils performed with an additional skater.
Reinhart, who was moved up from the third line to exchange Verhaeghe on the highest line with Barkov and Evan Rodrigues, scored on deflections in entrance. The first got here 3:54 after the opening faceoff, and the second got here on a third-period energy play that gave Florida a 4-0 lead. The objectives had been the two hundredth and 201st of his profession.
“He’s one of the smartest players in the league and he has this stick that suits him well in front of the net,” Barkov mentioned. “He can do whatever he wants with that, and touches pucks and makes plays and just one of the smartest players I’ve seen.”
Devils coach Lindy Ruff was offended after the Devils (1-1-1) began poorly for the third straight recreation.
“Yeah, to a man we all should be,” Ruff mentioned. “Players, coaches, we all should be angry at ourselves.”
He promised adjustments except his staff began taking part in with extra desperation from the beginning.
NOTES
Maurice coached in his 1,769th recreation Monday evening, passing Joel Quenneville for third all-time amongst NHL coaches. … Forward Sam Bennett and defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have but to play this season due to accidents. … RW Justin Sourdif, a third-round draft choose in 2020, made his NHL debut for the Panthers. … The loss denied coach Ruff his one centesimal win with New Jersey. Bratt and Haula every had a objective and an help.
UP NEXT
Panthers: Return to Sunrise, Florida, to host to Toronto on Thursday within the begin of a four-game homestand.
Devils: Head to Long Island to face the New York Islanders on Friday evening.
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