Panthers at Devils
THE STORY: Of all the things the Florida Panthers have done well in a surprising first half of the season, their ability to carve out single points in close games may be the most impressive. The team with the most "extra points" in the league will look to bounce back from an overtime loss to the New York Rangers a night earlier as they visit the New Jersey Devils on Friday. The 3-2 defeat gave the Panthers their eighth overtime or shootout loss and, while they'd gladly take some victories in those games, those precious single points have vaulted the club to the top of the Southeast Conference. They'll face a Devils team that has dominated action beyond the 60-minute mark this season, winning 10 of 12 games decided in overtime or a shootout. The Panthers are 3-8 in those scenarios this season. This is the third meeting between the clubs in 2011-12, with each team winning once.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida, MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (20-12-8): Of all the players Florida added in the off-season, none have proven more valuable than defenseman Brian Campbell. Though he comes with a hefty pricetag, the 32-year-old has provided the Panthers blue line with the kind of stability it needed to compete with the league's elite. He has been especially dangerous with the man advantage, recording 18 of his 29 assists on a power play that ranks just outside the top 10 in the NHL.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (21-16-2): Friday marks the latest game in a tough stretch for the Devils, who are coming off a win over Pittsburgh and consecutive losses to Ottawa and Boston - all teams at least four games above .500. The Florida tilt marks the final game before the Devils head out on a four-game road swing that will take them to Pittsburgh, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. With New Jersey sitting near the cut line in the East, that trip will be a pivotal one.
OVERTIME:
1. Six of their last seven meetings have been decided by a goal, with three of those games ending in overtime or a shootout.
2. The Panthers have struggled against Atlantic Division opponents, winning only five of their last 18 encounters overall.
3. With Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins out four weeks with a shoulder injury, Devils forward Adam Henrique should be able to close some ground in the rookie scoring race. Henrique enters Friday seven points behind Nugent-Hopkins.