The New Jersey Devils followed up a solid and disciplined first period with a very poor, undisciplined second period, and they're lucky they're not trailing by multiple goals. Kris Versteeg scored in the second to give the Florida Panthers a 1-0 lead, but they had numerous other opportunities and they might regret failing to capitalize.
New Jersey committed a total of four penalties in the second period, and two of them were particularly bad. Dainius Zubrus was assessed a four-minute double minor for a high stick, while Adam Henrique picked up a penalty while the Devils were on the power play. The period finished four-on-four, and the Panthers will have a power play when the third period begins.
Versteeg's goal came on the Panthers' first power play of the period, four minutes in. Stephen Weiss and Brian Campbell set it up with some great passes, but Versteeg finished off the attack brilliantly with a one-tip ripper past Martin Brodeur.
The Devils played with extremely poor discipline in the second period, but managed to kill the Zubrus penalty. They put Florida on the power play three times in the period, including that extended penalty, and the Panthers will have half a power play to start the third. The Devils need to clean up their penalties and hope the Panthers continue to fail to capitalize on golden opportunities.
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