Devils Fall 2-1 to Panthers in Shootout

Published: Wednesday, January 15, 2025

by Mike Bellifemini

NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey Devils (26-15-5) fell to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (26-16-3) in a shootout by a final score of 2-1 on Tuesday night. The loss gives the Devils their second overtime loss in the last three games.

The game started slow in the first two periods as both teams were scoreless heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation. Spencer Knight and Jacob Markstrom combined for 30 saves through the opening two frames, but it did not take long for the scoreless tie to be broken in the third. 

Former Devil Jesper Boqvist beat Markstrom in close only 41 seconds into the third to give Florida the lead. Then 1:46 later, the Devils evened the score with a fortuitous bounce off defenseman Gustav Forsling and past Knight to tie it up at one. The goal was credited to Nico Hischier for his team-leading 20th goal of the season as he threw the puck toward the net, where it bounced off Forsling and in. 

Tempers flared when Matthew Tkachuk hit Nico Hischier in the open ice not long after his equalizer, which led to a scrum and a Devils power play. However, the Devils could not capitalize on the man advantage, and the game remained tied up. It stayed that way to force the game into overtime despite chances from both sides down the stretch. 

This was the third straight game that the Devils have needed overtime as they lost to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden and then beat the Lightning at home last time out with the winner from Stefan Noesen, who missed tonight’s game with an illness. 

In overtime, the Devils controlled the puck more than Florida and had some good scoring opportunities, but they could not find the winner, and New Jersey would head to the shootout for the first time this season. 

Paul Cotter’s nifty move and Aleksander Barkov’s quick shot had the shootout evened at one after the first round, but then the next three shooters missed, which gave Anton Lundell the chance to win it, and he beat Jacob Markstrom to give the Panthers the extra point in the win. 

Both teams did not score on the power play tonight, as Spencer Knight made 26 saves while Jacob Markstrom made 27. The Devils are six points behind the Capitals for the Metropolitan Division lead, and they lead the third-place Hurricanes by two points. The Panthers are also second in their division, trailing the Maple Leafs by one point for the Atlantic Division lead. 

The Devils will be back in action on Thursday night against the Maple Leafs on the road, as it will be the first time Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe will return to Toronto since he was fired by the organization last May. 

Mike Bellifemini is an Assistant Sports Director at WSOU 89.5 FM and can be reached at michael.bellifemini@student.shu.edu.

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