Devils Declaw Panthers With Overtime Win, Force Game 7

Panthers Vs. Devils Game 6: Florida's Lack Of Offense Lets Devils Survive

The Florida Panthers had an opportunity to close out their first playoff series since 1996, but the club's lack of offensive firepower allowed the New Jersey Devils to break through.

Panthers Vs. Devils Final Score: Travis Zajac's Overtime Goal Sends Series To Florida For Game 7

After an underwhelming, listless third period by the New Jersey Devils, they came out with unmatched intensity in overtime in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers in their first-round series of the NHL Playoffs. Five minutes and 39 seconds later, Travis Zajac took a pass from Ilya Kovalchuk and put it in the back of the net, past Scott Clemmensen, who played a brilliant period-and-half to end regulation.

Zajac played just 15 games in the regular season because of injuries, and appeared to hurt his leg in the second period. He came back a few minutes later and was fine, clearly, skating by two Panthers defenders to score.

The series goes back to Florida for Game 7. The Panthers haven't been in this situation since the mid-1990s, so they don't want to blow this in front of what could be the largest home crowd any of their players have seen in years.

For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stick with SB Nation's NHL hub. For more on the Panthers, head to Litter Box Cats, and for more on the Devils, check out In Lou We Trust.

Devils Vs. Panthers, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Florida Hangs Tough To Force Overtime

The New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers are headed to overtime after an anticlimactic third period in Game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Devils couldn't capitalize on a multitude of opportunities and the Panthers held fast to force extra hockey.

The Devils started the final period with 35 seconds of a power play against Scottie Upshall for these MMA moves at the end of the second. Six seconds later, Brian Campbell was put in the box, giving the Devils a 5-on-3 for 30 seconds and a power play for another 1:30, but they couldn't capitalize.

The energy for both teams seemed to briefly sag before a few quick strikes by the Devils were turned away by Panthers backup goalie Scott Clemmensen, who allowed the first two goals of the game but clamped down well after that.

With just over five minutes remaining in the game, Kris Versteeg of the Panthers was booked for an obvious high-sticking. After a decently executed first possession of the power play ended with a saved shot, the rest of the advantage was a mess of mistakes and turnovers, culminating in Jerred Smithson's terrific lay-out block of Marek Zidlicky's slap shot.

If the Panthers can get the Devils into the penalty box in overtime, don't be shocked if they close it out.

For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stick with SB Nation's NHL hub. For more on the Panthers, head to Litter Box Cats, and for more on the Devils, check out In Lou We Trust.

ANIMATED: Scottie Upshall Punches Steve Bernier Twice In The Head

Devils Vs. Panthers, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Florida Climbs Back From 2-0 Deficit To Tie New Jersey

After going the entire first period without a penalty either way, Florida Panthers center Tomas Kopecky had New Jersey Devils defenseman Peter Harrold run face-first into his stick just a couple of minutes into the second.

The Panthers did well during the first 1:56 of the Devils' ensuing power play, but Ilya Kovalchuk broke through right in front of Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen, giving the Devils a 2-0 lead with just more than 16 minutes to go in the second period.

That was a terrific pass from Travis Zajac from behind the goal. Zajac left the game just a couple minutes later after an impressive shift with what appeared to be a leg injury, but he stayed on the bench and returned just a few minutes later.

Just four minutes after Kovalchuk's goal, the Panthers answered with a goal of their own, off the stick of Kris Versteeg, his third of this high-scoring series. But the Panthers didn't sit idle long.

Despite not drawing a single penalty against the Devils — considering how these playoffs have been going, that might be the most surprising development through two-thirds of this game — the Panthers were able to get another scoring opportunity less than six minutes later. After Martin Brodeur mishandled a routine shot attempt, Steve Bergenheim was there with the niceness on the rebound:

Devils fans in attendance were upset that a tripping wasn't called against Kovalchuck just seconds before the goal — the bench had their arms raised in protest as well — but the refs' whistles were silent.

That wasn't the case a few minutes later, when the extra-curriculars started. A scrum around the Panthers goal and wound up with Scottie Upshall in the penalty box for going all UFC on former Panther Steve Bernier, giving the Devils their second power play of the period for the last minute and change.

The Panthers killed the first 1:25 of the power play however, and the Devils will have 35 seconds of a man advantage to start the final period, tied 2-2.

For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stick with SB Nation's NHL hub. For more on the Panthers, head to Litter Box Cats, and for more on the Devils, check out In Lou We Trust.

Devils Vs. Panthers, NHL Playoffs 2012 Game 6: Steve Bernier Puts NJ Up 1-0 At First Intermission

The New Jersey Devils are fighting for their lives at home against the Florida Panthers. The Devils, the Eastern Conference's No. 6 seed, are down 3-2 to the third-seeded Panthers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a relatively quiet first 16 and a half minutes that didn't see a single penalty, the Devils' Steve Bernier broke through.

It was an incredibly tough angle to score from and Bernier, a former Panther, couldn't have picked a better time to score his second goal of the series. The Devils managed 13 shots on goals against Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen, while the Panthers got just six against Martin Brodeur. The Devils defense came to play so far.

For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stick with SB Nation's NHL hub. For more on the Panthers, head to Litter Box Cats, and for more on the Devils, check out In Lou We Trust.

NHL Playoffs 2012, Devils Vs. Panthers Game 6: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

The Florida Panthers are on the verge of their first NHL Stanley Cup playoffs series victory since 1996.