From the start the Florida Panthers looked like they wanted to dictate play, and physical play at that. The intensity was up and the crowd was rocking...until the Devils skill kicked in. It didn't take long.

At 6:31 of the first, Patrick Elias outwaited a sprawling Theodore to make it 1-0, and the onslaught continued totaling 26 shots to the Panthers 9 at the end of the first period. The 3-0 deficit ended up being too much to overcome with the Devils' trapping style. Martin Brodeur gave up rebound after rebound but the Panthers could not capitalize to even the score.

Sadly the officials were a big part of the story. The NHL quivers at such words. However, the second goal scored by the Devils, on the power play, was a result of a terrible high sticking call on Shawn Matthias. Matthias came in with a legal shoulder hit, forcing the Devils player's own stick into his face. The "infraction" happened right in front of the Panthers bench, and was deemed a double minor. Head coach Kevin Dineen went off on the officials, and rightfully so.

The Panthers penalty kill, called on seven times tonight, was fabulous for 3:52 of the 4 minute penalty, but Danius Zubrus made the Panthers pay for an infraction that never happened. The downward spiral continued, as former Panther Ryan Carter stuck the knife a little deeper with the third goal of the period 45 seconds later. The Cats seemed to be looking to hold on for the rest of the period.

"Unfortunately you hit a guy with a shoulder and he hits himself in the head with his stick and you end up killing a four minute penalty in that situation," said Dineen. "That was part of our game plan to be a physical team and when it happens right in front of your bench it caught us all off guard."

The Panthers rebounded nicely in the second period, and scored two unanswered goals. Mr. Playoffs, Sean Bergenheim, busted through with the first Florida goal of the playoffs and Kris Versteeg then came through with only his second goal over the last 19 games but sixth point in the last six games. If those two get going that bodes well for the rest of the series.

There were many questions about this team having the jitters to start the game but the players and coaches widely disagreed with that notion. Simple breakdowns and bad bounces allowed the Devils get out to their lead that would end up being the difference.

Still the officiating crew seemed very inconsistent. Florida was called for questionable/soft penalties and those that seemed to be obvious by the Devils were rarely called. I cannot recall one game all season that seemed so poorly called, and the levity of the situation had nothing to do with it or the crowd's judgement. But that is why they play the games, and in the end it should all even out (hopefully).

Jose Theodore was simply outstanding after looking at 26 first period shots, not giving up another for the rest of the way to give his team a chance to win. With the barage of shots he faced it easily could have been 6-0 after one period. For now, it looks as if Dineen made the right choice of choosing experience in Theodore over recent good play in Scott Clemmensen.

The Panthers looked liked they belonged after the first 20 minutes. If there is any positive to pull out of this loss it is that they dictated most of the play after settling down.

"We got a couple goals on them, but we just ran out of time," said veteran defenseman Ed Jovanovski. "As a group we'll look at it tomorrow and come out with a better start."

Twitter @DanSpiegel
www.danspiegel.net

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