Panthers Vs. Devils, Game 2: Florida Evens Series With 4-2 Win

Panthers Vs. Devils, Game 2: Disciplined Play Brings The Rats Out In South Florida

After a horrific re-introduction to playoff hockey, the Florida Panthers looked like a completely different club in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series.

Panthers Vs. Devils, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 2: Rats Rain Down As Florida Evens Series

For the first time since 1997, the Florida Panthers have won a playoff game. It has been a long time coming, and they almost squeaked this one away to the New Jersey Devils in the third period, but the Panthers were victorious, taking the 4-2 victory and evening the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at one game a piece.

The Devils really made a strong charge in the final period. Just :48 into the session, Travis Zajac scored to cut Florida's 3-0 lead down to two goals, and 1:14 later, Ilya Kovalchuk pulled his club within one goal. But they couldn't get any closer than that as Florida split possession time with New Jersey, failing to allow them to put together enough sustained pressure to tie up the game.

Tomas Fleischmann finished it off with an empty netter at the 19:59 mark of the period, and that gave Panthers fans a chance to bring out an old tradition: Rats!

For all news and information regarding the New Jersey Devils, please visit In Lou We Trust. For updates and perspective on the Florida Panthers, head on over to Litter Box Cats.

Panthers Vs. Devils Score Update: Florida Responds, Takes 2-0 Lead

The Florida Panthers were in danger of falling into a 2-0 hole on Sunday in Game 2 of their NHL playoff matchup with the New Jersey Devils. But the Panthers came out strong, breaking through for the first goal of the game, then adding a second early in the second period to take a 2-0 lead on the Devils.

The power play has been the Panthers friend, and Stephen Weiss has been on the money twice. In the first period, Andy Greene was sent to the box for tripping just 11 seconds in -- a penalty that sent bodies sliding every which way. Just 12 seconds later, Weiss scored the first goal of the game, and the Panthers were in front early.

Late in the period, Alexei Ponikarovsky was sent to the box for a high stick, and though the first frame ended harmlessly, his transgression would prove costly after the break. Just over a minute into the second, with Ponikarovsky still in the box as his penalty time wound down, Weiss struck again, and the lead was 2-0 for the Panthers.

That's where it stands midway through the second as the Panthers look to even the series before it heads to New Jersey.

For all news and information regarding the New Jersey Devils, please visit In Lou We Trust. For updates and perspective on the Florida Panthers, head on over to Litter Box Cats.

GIF: Martin Brodeur Goes For A Ride

NHL Playoffs 2012, Panthers Vs. Devils Game 2: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

The Florida Panthers and the New Jersey Devils will meet once again on Sunday night. The Devils will try to take a 2-0 lead in the first round of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.