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Turnaround begins Tuesday Panthers know Game 3 is 'must win' to get back in series
Posted: Monday April 17, 2000 06:44 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- The Florida Panthers, who have beaten the New Jersey Devils just once in two seasons, must now try to do it four times in five games. New Jersey swept the first two games of their NHL playoff series at home, winning 2-1 Sunday. The best-of-7 series moves to Florida for the next two games beginning Tuesday. "We can turn the series around," Panthers coach Terry Murray said. "But we absolutely have to win Tuesday night." At this point, a victory would represent a breakthrough for the Panthers, who are 1-7-2 against New Jersey the past two seasons. Florida hasn't beaten goaltender Martin Brodeur in the past 11 games. "Our confidence is fine," Murray said. "We have played well against them this year. The games have been good. The games have been close." But a pair of one-goal losses in the playoff series have left the Panthers in a must-win situation. Turnovers and blown coverage are putting constant pressure on Florida goaltender Mike Vernon. If the Panthers fail to rally, they'll look back on New Jersey's first goal Sunday as the pivotal moment in the series. Florida had a 1-0 lead and 5-on-3 advantage, but a clearing pass by New Jersey's Scott Stevens eluded Robert Svehla, and the Devils' Scott Niedermayer converted the resulting 2-on-1 for the tying goal. "We have to limit our mistakes," Vernon said. "We shoot ourselves in the foot. Hopefully more guys can jump on the train and we can go with it." Devils defenseman Stevens has two goals, one assist and, at age 36, a sense of urgency regarding the postseason. "I think you're fooling yourself if you don't look at every playoffs as possibly being your last chance," he said. "When you're younger, you're foolish and think you have lots of time. But there is no time like the present. "We made a lot of changes this year to win a Stanley Cup. Now is the time." Stevens has helped to contain Florida wing Pavel Bure. The NHL's leading goal scorer this season has been limited to one assist, and he took six shots Sunday but came up empty against Brodeur. "You're not going to score too many goals against Jersey," Bure said. "We just need to keep trying. Our confidence is still there. We can compete with this team." But so far, New Jersey has been the deeper, more physical, more aggressive club. They've played like the team touted as perhaps the NHL's best before a late-season slump. And history says the Devils are tough to catch in the playoffs. Four times they've led a series 2-0. Each time, they've gone on to win the round. "There's no comfort," coach Larry Robinson said. "Comfort is June 17, when the playoffs are over."
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