Panthers Clemmensen Dumps Devils 4-2 In New Jersey

Florida Panthers' netminder Scott Clemmensen stopped 26 of 28 shots from his former team, the New Jersey Devils, as the Panthers won 4-2 for their 1st victory in 5 games. Clemmensen beat Martin Brodeur, who he backed up for 5 seasons before joining Florida this season. Brodeur faced 22 shots, stopping 18.

Defenseman Jordan Leopold put Florida up 1-0 beating Brodeur taking a pass in the slot from Nathan Horton as Horton came from behind the Devils net. Leopold snuck in from the point into open ice in front of Brodeur netting his 4th this season.

Michael Frolik tipped in a power play goal about a minute after New Jersey defenseman Bryce Salvador was sent off for a hooking call to give Florida a 2-0 lead. one minute later it was 3-0 Florida as Shawn Matthias tipped one past Brodeur on a shot from Steven Reinprecht. Brian Rolston got one back to cut the lead to 3-1 on a slap shot as he crossed into the Panthers zone, blowing it by Clemmensen giving the 36-year-old Rolston his 11th of the year.

Early in the 3rd, Devils center Dean McAmmond, who was signed as a free-agent after playing with the Senators and Islanders last season, got New Jersey back into it with his 1st goal, 11 games into the season. McAmmond was trying to pass back to the right point when the puck deflected off defenseman Keith Ballard's right skate through a surprised Clemmensen.

At 2:23, Frolik got his 2nd of the game as the speedy forward took a breakaway pass from defenseman Nathan Horton beating Brodeur lifting the puck over the goalie's right pad restoring Florida's 2 goal lead.

The Devils are at home Saturday to face the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Panthers head to Pittsburgh to do battle with the Penguins the same night.