(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils were able to keep their season alive
with an overtime win on Tuesday. Tonight, the Devils will try to claim this
Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, as they visit the Florida Panthers for
a decisive Game 7 at BankAtlantic Center.
The sixth-seeded Devils have already faced an elimination game in this series,
taking Tuesday's Game 6 in overtime to tie the set a three wins apiece and
force this evening's final battle.
Travis Zajac scored at 5:39 of overtime, lifting New Jersey to a 3-2 decision
in Game 6. Zajac was the recipient of a cross-ice pass from Ilya Kovalchuk,
then took several strides up the left wing before beating Panthers goaltender
Scott Clemmensen with a low wrister.
Kovalchuk and Steve Bernier also tallied for the Devils, who outshot Florida
by a 42-16 margin in the game.
Martin Brodeur did enough to keep his club alive, making 14 saves.
"We just kept going. We just did our thing and tried to throw as many pucks on
(net) as possible," Brodeur said. "They're tough to play against. So when you
win a game like that it's rewarding because you know you have to go through a
lot to win."
Kris Versteeg and Sean Bergenheim provided offense for the Panthers, who
overcame a two-goal second-period deficit to force OT.
Clemmensen played well in defeat, stopping 39 shots. He was pressed into
service after normal starter Jose Theodore missed the morning skate with an
undisclosed injury.
"We expected it to be a tight game. We were in position to win. ... It could
have gone either way," Clemmensen said.
It's unclear if Theodore will be able to return to his starting role tonight
or if Clemmensen will get the call instead. Jacob Markstrom was recalled from
San Antonio of the American Hockey League to serve as Clemmensen's backup in
Game 6.
Florida defenseman Jason Garrison has missed the last three games with a
lower-body injury and is questionable for tonight.
The Devils are 6-7 all-time in Game 7s and Brodeur has played in nine of
those 12 games, posting a 5-4 mark along the way. New Jersey dropped its last
Game 7, a 4-3 defeat to Carolina at home in the Eastern quarterfinals on April
28, 2009.
Florida won its only Game 7, beating the Penguins in Pittsburgh to claim the
1996 Eastern Conference title.
The Panthers are 2-1 at home in this series after posting a 21-9-11 at
BankAtlantic Center during the regular season. New Jersey had a solid 24-15-2
record as the guest in 2011-12.
The Sports Network