Devils 3, Panthers 1
Jaromir Jagr scored his 715th career goal and Keith Kinkaid came within 89 seconds of his first career shutout as host New Jersey extended its point streak to four games (3-0-1).
Mike Cammalleri and Steve Bernier each recorded a goal and an assist as the Devils beat Florida for the 26th time in the last 34 meetings at home. Making his first start since Jan. 9, Kinkaid turned aside 26 shots for his second victory of the season.
Brandon Pirri scored with the game out of reach for the slumping Panthers, who lost for the seventh time in eight games (1-6-1). All-Star Roberto Luongo made only 11 saves and gave up a pair of first-period goals in the loss.
Jagr, who had not hit the scoresheet in five games since registering a hat trick on Jan. 3, put New Jersey ahead midway through the opening period. Dainius Zubrus left a drop pass in the right corner for Jagr, who skated in front and ripped a shot over the left shoulder of Luongo for his 10th tally.
The Devils doubled the lead five minutes later on a spectacular setup from Bernier, who sent a no-look, between-the-legs pass to Cammalleri for a one-timer from the bottom of the right faceoff circle. New Jersey registered only one shot in the second period and three in the third but added an insurance tally when Bernier scored into an empty net with 2:32 to play for a 3-0 advantage.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jagr moved within two goals of tying Phil Esposito (717) for fifth place on the career list and is 17 points shy of Ron Francis (1,798) for fourth all-time. ... New Jersey's Andy Greene played in his 197th consecutive game, moving past Scott Stevens for the second-longest streak by a defenseman in franchise history. ... Devils C Scott Gomez also picked up an assist on Cammalleri's tally, his 10th point in 11 games.