Devils at Panthers
Jaromir Jagr faces his latest former team as the Florida Panthers host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both clubs. The 43-year-old told reporters he was not bitter about being dealt at the trade deadline, saying "I don't ever get upset. I look at life differently than other people."
Jagr notched a pair of assists to increase his NHL career point total to 1,800 in Florida's 4-2 victory over Boston on Thursday. The future Hall-of-Famer will play in his 1,550th NHL game Saturday - breaking a tie with Alex Delvecchio for 11th place on the all-time list. Jagr even netted a goal for New Jersey and helped his then-club defeat the Panthers on two occasions, outscoring them 8-2 in the process. The Devils have limped to the finish line, falling for the third straight time and ninth in 10 contests (1-5-3) with a 4-3 overtime setback to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus2 (New Jersey), FSN Florida
ABOUT THE DEVILS (32-35-14): While his team has struggled, Steve Bernier is finishing strong by recording back-to-back two-point performances. The 30-year-old, who collected a goal and an assist in New Jersey's 3-1 victory over Florida on Jan. 31, also had one of each in a 4-2 setback to the New York Rangers on Tuesday before tallying twice against the Lightning. Mike Cammalleri recorded two goals and an assist in the season series versus the Panthers but has set up just one tally in his last four games overall.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (37-29-15): Roberto Luongo will bid to snap a tie with Chris Osgood for 10th place on the all-time wins list when he takes the ice on Saturday. Despite recording 401 career victories on his individual resume, the 36-year-old Luongo isn't thrilled that Florida once again will miss the postseason. "It's not sweet because we're still not in the playoffs," Luongo said after defeating Boston, the team that officially ended the Panthers' pursuit of the playoffs. "But they did it to us last week (a 3-2 Boston win on March 31). ... But we're still on the outside looking in. We'll take it and get ready for the last one and move on."
OVERTIME
1. Florida C Aleksander Barkov has recorded nine points in his last nine games but has been held off the scoresheet in all three career meetings with New Jersey.
2. The Devils have permitted four power-play goals in their last two contests.
3. Panthers D Erik Gudbranson did not practice Friday after suffering an upper-body injury versus the Bruins. He is not expected to play against New Jersey.