NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Kyle Palmieri had a goal and an assist, Keith Kinkaid made 35 saves and the New Jersey Devils stopped a three-game slide by topping the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Saturday.
Taylor Hall and Blake Coleman also scored for the Devils, who won for the first time since opening the season with four consecutive victories. Nico Hischier had two assists.
Florida lost for the third time in four games. Mike Matheson and Mike Hoffman scored for the Panthers, and James Reimer made 23 stops.
Next up for Florida is a trip to Finland. The Panthers play Winnipeg in Helsinki on Thursday and Friday as part of the NHL's Global Series.
New Jersey went ahead to stay on Palmieri's controversial goal with 9.5 seconds remaining in the first period.
Palmieri appeared to brush Reimer just as Damon Severson's point shot arrived and Florida challenged for goalie interference. The score was upheld after a lengthy video review, giving Palmieri a team-leading eighth goal.
Prior to the opening score, the momentum belonged to the Panthers, who spent most of the period in the New Jersey zone.
They missed several excellent power-play chances. Kinkaid denied Hoffman from the right circle, Vincent Trocheck hit the post and Jonathan Huberdeau flipped a shot over the net.
There was no disputing New Jersey's second goal 3:05 into the second period. All alone in the slot, Hall got a pass from Palmieri and beat Reimer to extend his point streak to seven games.
Coleman made it 3-0 when he scored his third goal of the season at 13:21.
The Panthers' frustration continued in the second. Hoffman was denied again by Kinkaid's sliding pad stop on his shot from the right dot. Hoffman responded by slashing the back of the cage.
In the third, Kinkaid lost his bid for a shutout when Matheson glided through the slot and tucked the puck home with 4:57 remaining.
With Reimer on the bench for an extra attacker. Hoffman scored with 15 seconds left on his eighth shot of the game.
NOTES: Devils F Joey Anderson made his NHL debut. ... New Jersey now heads out for a seven-game trip. The Devils next play at the Prudential Center on Nov. 13 when Pittsburgh comes to town. .. Devils fan Lauren "The Warrior" Liff fulfilled a long-time goal by singing the National Anthem. Liff, who suffers from multiple chronic pain illnesses, received a warm round of applause from the crowd.
UP NEXT
Panthers: Play the Jets in Finland on Thursday.
Devils: Visit Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Associated Press (AP) wire.
