Devils Top Panthers 3-2 In Double-OT

Adam Henrique scored his second goal of the game at 3:47 of the second overtime, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 in Game 7 early Friday to advance to second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Devils wasted a 2-0 lead in the third period, then recovered and earned a matchup with Philadelphia in the East semifinals. Stephen Gionta also scored in regulation for New Jersey, which won a series for the first time since 2007.

Martin Brodeur made 43 saves for the Devils in a game that ended on April 27 — the 20th anniversary of Brodeur’s first playoff appearance for New Jersey.

Stephen Weiss and Marcel Goc scored third-period goals for the Panthers, and Jose Theodore made 32 saves. The Panthers made a surprising run to the Southeast Division title this season, earning their first postseason berth in 12 years.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)