Eastern Conference Final Recap

Eastern Final

Florida Panthers - 1 @ New Jersey Devils - 4

• New Jersey leads series 1-0

The New Jersey Devils conjured the spirits of the neutral zone trap and beat the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. 

The Devils stifling defense limited the Panthers to just 19 shots throughout the game. It made things pretty easy for Jacob Markstrom, who already sports a 1.75 GAA and .934 SP% through two rounds. 

In spite of the shot totals, the Panthers did connect and get on the board first. Rookie Trevor Zegras scored five minutes into the first to give him 9 points through 12 games (4-5-9). It was all New Jersey after that. 

Nikolaj Ehlers would score his first of two goals in the game before the first period was over to get the game back to 1-1. He'd add an assist to cap off a three point night to go along with a +4 rating. 

A 3-goal second period put the game well out of reach for the Panthers. Aleskander Barkov and Devon Toews were the other goal scorers for New Jersey. 

Florida wasn't able to capitalise on the powerplay like they had during their previous series versus the Islanders, simply because New Jersey played between the whistles and didn't give them any chances. The Devils, meanwhile, had two attempts with the man advantage but couldn't convert. All goals scored in the game were at 5-on-5. 

THREE STARS 

Nikolaj Ehlers (NJD): 2 goals, 1 assist, +4, 2 hits, 3 shots, 1 GA, 1 TA, 19:24 TOI
Devon Toews (NJD): 1 goal, +1, 4 hits, 1 shot, 3 SB, 1 GA, 1 TA, 25:36 TOI
Victor Hedman (FLA): -1, 3 hits, 5 blocked shots, 1 giveaway, 2 takeaways, 25:47 TOI