Game Three-- Panthers and Devils, April 17, 2012

The Devils and Panthers split their opening two games in South Florida, with the Panthers sending their fans home content on Sunday, gaining their first playoff home victory since the days of rats in their old home of 1997.

The series now shifts to Newark, where the Devils, when they aren't fighting with the Mayor tend to find the atmosphere to their liking, providing for a most uncomfortable place for visiting teams to drop in at. Yet as the hometown paper points out, success has not always been guaranteed by a home playoff date.

With the series tied a one win each, either team could grab some momentum with a couple of wins at the Prudential Centre, it's a series that seems to have stayed under the radar for the most part, lost in the drama of some of the other competitions, but for Devil and Panther fans there is only one game in town, and game three is up next.

Game Three-- Florida 4 at New Jersey 3

Panthers lead the series 2 games to 1

Previews and Reviews

Post Game

Newark Star Ledger-- Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk ready to 'take charge' as team faces must-win Game 4
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils look at Game 4 of series with Florida Panthers as a must-win
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils' Pete DeBoer admits Anton Volchenkov struggling ...
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils GM Lou Lamoriello: Momentum change in playoffs is ...
Newark Star Ledger-- What was the worst part about Game 3 loss?
NY Daily News-- Martin Brodeur yanked during NJ Devils' 4-3 loss against Florida
NY Post-- Devils lose to Panthers, blow 3-0 lead to trail series
NY Post-- Devils trying to turn Rock into hard place to play
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers rally to defeat Devils, take 2-1 lead in series
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers Ready to move Forward ...
Miami Herald-- Where the Rat was won ...
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers defensemen carry the offence
Globe and Mail-- Panthers complete improbably comeback against Devils

Pre Game

Newark Star Ledger-- Devils haven't played well at home in recent playoffs
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils-Panthers series missing nastiness... so far
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils' Zach Parise: Two games without a goal is no reason to worry
NY Post-- Devils lose to Panthers; series tied
Miami Herald-- Power play gives Florida Panthers momentum
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers even things up
Globe and Mail-- Panthers hang on to pull level with Devils

Previous Items on the Series

Game Two
Game One

Game Two-- Devils and Panthers, April 15 2012

New Jersey seeks to take a two game lead back to the Newark for games three and four as they continue their southern Florida excursion, eager to ruin the Panthers return to post season play.

Florida, unaccustomed as they are to being in the hockey spotlight, will of course wish to make the best of their time on the NHL radar and try to extend and indeed surprise the Devils by the time all is said and done.

Game Two-- New Jersey 2 at Florida 4 

Series is tied at 1 game each

Previews and Reviews below.

Post Game

Newark Star Ledger-- Should Pete DeBoer juggle lines for Game 3?
Newark Star Ledger-- Special teams were the difference
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils take comfort in knowing split in Florida gives them home ice
Newark Star Ledger-- For Devils and Panthers, veterans continue to play key roles
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils squander opportunity and fall to Panthers, 4-2 in Game 2
NY Post-- Devils lose to Panthers; series tied
NY Daily News-- NJ Devils tumble into series tie with Florida after 4-2 loss
Miami Herald-- Rats fly as Florida Panthers top New Jersey Devils in Game 2
Miami Herald-- Stephen Weiss' smile worth waiting for after Panthers win
Miami Herald-- Scoring touch continues for Panthers' Sean Bergenheim
Miami Herald-- Victory over Devils is special for Florida Panthers
Globe and Mail-- Panthers hang on to pull level with Devils

Pre Game

Newark Star Ledger-- Devils expect Panthers to have better start in Game 2
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils coach Pete DeBoer started the team slogan "Swarm it Up"
Newark Star Leger-- No lineup changes for Game 2 against Florida Panthers
NY Post-- Devils look to take 2-0 lead on Panthers
NY Daily News-- Devils grab 1-0 series lead against Florida Panthers
Miami Herald-- No room for excuses as Florida Panthers head into Game 2
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers fall to New Jersey Devils in Game 1
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers hope they learned lesson

Previous items on the series

Game One

Game One -- Devils - Panthers April 13 2012

A return to the playoffs for the Panthers, something different for the home crowd which hasn't had much cause to go to the rink the last few springtimes. Thanks mainly to the NHL's seeding system, Florida from the weak Southeast gained an artificially high placement heading into round one. Still, a return to respectability will have to come in small steps for the Panthers, as the Devils are perhaps the favourite to win this opening round series.

Game One-- New Jersey Devils 3 at Florida Panthers 2 

Devils lead the series 1 game to 0

The previews and reviews can be found below.

Post Game

Newark Star Ledger--
Newark Star Ledger--

Pre Game

Newark Star Ledger-- Adam Larsson expected to play in Devil's first round playoff series
Newark Star Ledger-- Ex-Devils center John Madden ready to face pal Martin Brodeur
Newark Star Ledger-- Who is the franchise's most clutch playoff performer of all time?
Newark Star Leger-- Devils' Lou Lamoriello blames himself for missing playoffs last year
New York Post-- Forwards could push Devils in playoffs
New York Post-- Devils seek to end Stanley Cup drought
Miami Herald-- Playoffs a familiar experience for Florida Panthers players
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers coach Kevin Dineen must choose between a hot goalie and...
Miami Herald-- Beards are back as Florida Panthers prep for Stanley Cup playoffs
Miami Herald-- Florida Panthers' front line rounding into form