Lundell’s Shootout Winner Lifts Panthers Over Devils, 2-1

Anton Lundell scored the decisive shootout goal and Spencer Knight made 26 saves as the Florida Panthers edged the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Tuesday night, snapping the Devils’ six-game home winning streak.

The shootout began with Florida’s Aleksander Barkov and New Jersey’s Paul Cotter trading goals. Lundell then sealed the victory in the third round, beating Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom to secure an important road win for Florida.

After two scoreless periods, the game came to life in the third. Jesper Boqvist, a former Devil, opened the scoring just 41 seconds into the period with his 10th goal of the season. Boqvist, who was drafted by New Jersey in 2017 and played four seasons with the team, capitalized on assists from Carter Verhaeghe and Nate Schmidt to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

The Devils responded quickly. Captain Nico Hischier tied the game at 2:27 with his 20th goal of the season, assisted by Nathan Bastian and Timo Meier. Hischier, the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has now reached the 20-goal mark in four consecutive seasons.

Spencer Knight played a critical role for Florida, making several key saves to keep the game tied, including a crucial stop on Hischier with under eight minutes left in regulation. Knight’s stellar performance gave the Panthers the foundation they needed to secure the win in the shootout. Markstrom, the Devils’ netminder, also impressed with 27 saves in a tightly contested matchup.

The Panthers rebounded from a 4-3 loss to Philadelphia on Monday and closed the gap to just one point behind Toronto in the Atlantic Division standings. Florida secured its first win over New Jersey this season after dropping both November matchups at home. The Devils fell short after coming off an overtime victory against Tampa Bay on Saturday, marking the end of their strong six-game home streak.

New Jersey is 19-10-3 since their 3-0 loss to Calgary on Nov. 1, showcasing a strong bounce-back effort after a rough road trip (1-4-1). The win highlighted Florida’s ability to grind out results on the road, with Lundell stepping up in a clutch moment and Knight proving reliable in net.

Spencer Knight’s clutch save on Hischier late in the third period proved to be a game-changing moment. Nico Hischier’s consistency continues as he reached the 20-goal milestone for the fifth time in his career. Boqvist’s goal against his former team stood out, underscoring his development since leaving New Jersey.

New Jersey will visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night as they look to bounce back. Florida returns home to host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, aiming to build on their momentum.

This game showcased the competitive nature of two playoff-contending teams and highlighted the importance of contributions from both young stars and seasoned veterans.

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