Flat Devils flattened by Florida 3-1

The New Jersey Devils started strong,scored the first goal and played with energy.
That lasted for the first ten minutes of the game against the Florida Panthers and the team was dull thereafter and lost a 3-1 decision.
Steve Bernier scored his first goal as a Devil for the only New Jersey goal.
The Devils are off until Tuesday for a shuffle off to Buffalo and the waiting Sabres.

Hell Raisers

1) The heel in this one had to be former Devil and Martin Brodeur backup Scott Clemmensen,who has never lost to New Jersey in five starts since leaving the team.
Clemmensen did not have to be great,but he was solid in getting the win.

2) Mark Fayne frustrates me.
Fayne screened Martin Brodeur on the first Panther goal and did not even try to move around the crease and create visuals for Brodeur.
Either lead,follow or get out of the way-Fayne did none.

3) Florida's final goal was an empty netter on a Ilya Kovalchuk pass that went askew and wound up in the Panthers possession.
All things considered,this was one of those plays where Kovalchuk tries to make the perfect pass instead of the solid and safe one..

4) Glad to see Steve Bernier get his first goal as a Devil.
Bernier has been working hard since his callup from Albany and he deserved some good fortune,especially when the goal came after a hit by Bernier in the corner and followup move to the net....

5) Peter DeBoer tried to shuffle lines and create a spark,but the team just did not have it today.
Too many close games and five in eight days tend to wear on the wheels and on occasion,the tank will be empty.
That looked to be the case today to me....

Photo Credit:AP Photo