Jagr Leads Panthers Past Devils 3-2 In Season Finale
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SUNRISE (CBSMiami/AP) — In their season finale, the Florida Panthers beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Saturday night thanks to Jaromir Jagr's goal and assist.
Jagr's 17th goal of the season put him in a tie with Wayne Gretzky for 14th with 204 career power-play goals. He also grabbed sole possession of sixth on the NHL's career list for assists with 1,080.
It was Jagr's first game against the Devils since they traded him to Florida on Feb. 26. Jagr has six goals and 12 assists in 20 games with Florida.
Jonathan Huberdeau and Dave Bolland also scored for the Panthers. Al Montoya made 31 saves in his first appearance since injuring his groin against Toronto on March 3, a span of 17 games.
Damon Severson and Jordin Tootoo scored for the Devils, and Cory Schneider stopped 24 shots.
Florida (38-29-15) closed the season with two straight wins after dropping three of four. It also beat New Jersey for the first time in three games this season.
The Devils (32-36-14) dropped 10 of their last 11 games. Schneider lost his last eight starts of the season.
Jagr gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead with his power-play goal at 12:23 of the third. His initial shot was blocked, but he swept in the rebound.
Jagr also got an assist on Huberdeau's career-high 15th goal at 7:59 of the third. Jagr shot from the right circle and Schneider blocked the shot. Huberdeau grabbed the rebound and poked it in, lifting Florida to a 2-1 lead.
Severson tied it when he took a backhanded pass in the right circle and put it high into the net at 11:01.
Tootoo put the Panther in front 1:50 into the second. He passed from the right circle to Travis Zajac in the slot. Zajac passed it back to Tootoo low in the circle and he one-timed it past Montoya.
Bolland's goal tied it at 1. Brad Boyes passed from the right circle to Bolland in front of the crease. Bolland redirected the puck past Schneider on the stick side at 11:08 of the second.
The Panthers had a goal waved off with 3:01 left in the second when it was ruled that Jimmy Hayes made incidental contact with Schneider before the shot by Aaron Ekblad went into the net.
NOTES: Jagr played in his 1,550th NHL game, passing F Alex Delvecchio for sole possession of 11th place. ... D Erik Gudbranson was scratched with an upper-body injury. ... Devils Ds Raman Hrabarenka and Seth Helgeson were assigned to Albany of the AHL.
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