Devils 2, Panthers 1
Martin Brodeur returned after a three-week absence to turn aside 25 shots as the New Jersey Devils skated to a 2-1 road victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
David Clarkson and Brian Rolston scored nearly 3 1/2 minutes apart in the second period for New Jersey (27-31-4), which has won nine of its last 10 contests to continue its pursuit of an improbable playoff berth. The Devils now trail the eighth-place Carolina Hurricanes (29-25-9) by nine points.
Playing for the first time since spraining his knee on Feb. 6, Brodeur came within 4 1/2 minutes of his 115th career shutout. Marty Reasoner spoiled the party with 4:29 remaining in the third period with his second goal in as many games and 13th of the season.
Clarkson opened the scoring just 5:46 into the second period by cleaning up a rebound off Rod Pelley's shot. The tally was Clarkson's ninth of the season and first since Jan. 15 - ironically, also against the Panthers.
Rolston doubled the advantage with a power-play goal at 9:11 of the second period.
Sunday also saw the debut of right wing Hugh Jessiman, the 12th overall pick of the 2003 draft. The 26-year-old New York native, who had two shots on goal in 9:31 of ice time, became the last member of the first-round class to make his NHL debut.
Tomas Vokoun finished with 24 saves for Florida (26-29-7), which fell for the eighth time in nine home outings.