SUNRISE, Fla. — This is the margin for error the Devils don’t have, why it is nearly impossible for them to make the playoffs. They will take 3-of-4 points on their trip to the Sunshine State, but that is not enough.
The Devils have yet to win three straight games this season, and perhaps that alone should disqualify them from postseason. Though they clearly are playing better under coach Jacques Lemaire than they did for John MacLean, they missed a chance to create some spurious excitement and hope, if only among themselves, with a visit to Nassau coming tomorrow afternoon.
“We wanted the two points, but we’ll take what we can get right now,” said David Clarkson, whose third period wraparound earned New Jersey its 27th point in last night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Panthers.
The Devils won 5-2 over the Lightning Friday, and fatigue showed late in last night’s game.
“We could have played a better game,” Clarkson said. “We didn’t have the jump we had in Tampa.”
The loss left the Devils 3-7-1 under Lemaire, though they have points in three straight games for the first time this season. They must go 30-7-1 the rest of the way to reach 88 points, the playoff minimum since the shootout began.
“We have to be happy about this road trip,” said Martin Brodeur, who looked strong in net despite suffering the loss.
“We weren’t completely on our game tonight, but we had a chance in the third period for a win,” Andy Greene said.
Devils rookie Nick Palmieri opened the scoring 5:01 into play with his second career goal, a tap-in of the rebound from Travis Zajac’s right side shot on ex-Devil Scott Clemmensen. The play was set up by a sharp pass from Anssi Salmela, making his first appearance after sitting out two while clearing waivers.
Evgeny Dadonov erased that Devils lead at 15:07 with Florida’s first power play goal of the night, taking a drop from Stephen Weiss on the right side and darting to the circle to connect long side on Brodeur.
The Panthers made it 2-for-2 on the power play when Dennis Wideman put them in front 2:15 into the second, creeping in from the right point for an unopposed short-sider.
Clarkson forced overtime by wrapping his eighth goal and fourth in five games around the left post at 8:47 of the third. But the Panthers grabbed the extra point by hemming in the Devils, who failed to clear past Stephen Weiss.
Dmitry Kulikov waltzed to the slot to rip the winner over Brodeur’s glove, 3:36 into overtime.
“He walked in and had so much time. I hoped it would hit me,” Brodeur said. “I saw it when it was behind me, in the net.”
They’re looking back often these days, and come April, this lost point is another they will be trying to forget.
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Quite a collection of Hall of Famers on hand last night: Scotty Bowman, Jacques Laperriere, Larry Robinson, Jacques Lemaire, Lou Lamoriello, Bill Torrey and Mike Emrick, some nucleus of general managers, coaches, defense and center, plus announcer.
Also on hand were scouts Pete Mahovlich (Panthers), Devils’ Andre Boudrias, Pens’ Andre Savard, Ottawa’s Nick Polano, Rangers’ Gilles Leger, Carolina’s Claude Larose and Habs’ Larry Carriere, some probably eyeing the Devils for help.
