November 20, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; New Jersey Devils left winger Paul Cotter (47) moves the puck against Florida Panthers right winger Jack Devine (38) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils both have reason to feel even more desperate about their dwindling playoff hopes, adding even more significance to Tuesday’s meeting between the two clubs in Newark, New Jersey.
The Panthers, two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, are eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot. New Jersey is the second-worst team in the East and three points behind the Panthers, giving the Devils an even steeper hill to climb over the final 22 games of the season.
Both teams look like potential sellers rather than buyers ahead of the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday. But considering how hot and cold the Panthers and Devils have been this season, each club still feels like a late push is possible.
Florida coach Paul Morris believes his veteran team needs a “good feeling” to get back on track.
“Any good play, anything that makes them feel like there’s hope,” Morris said after Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders. “That’s what we’re trying to push for now. They’ve had a lot of minutes, but they’ve played a lot of big games together. That’s the key.”
The Panthers are 2-7-0 in their last nine games, with five of those losses coming in one-goal games. In Sunday’s game, Florida took an early 2-0 lead when New York’s Anders Lee scored the winning goal with 32 seconds left in regulation.
The Devils are also 2-7-0 in their last nine games, and “one-goal games” have unfortunately taken on a different meaning for the team. New Jersey recorded just one goal in any game while snapping a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
The win continued the Devils’ trend of shutting out games once they have the advantage. New Jersey is a perfect 19-0-0 when leading after two periods and 1-20-1 when trailing after two periods.
“We’ve been the best team in the NHL to get a third-period lead, so it’s OK to get there. We’ve got to find a way to do it more consistently,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Tuesday’s contest begins a seven-game homestand for the Devils, with them playing 13 of their final 22 games in their own building. The Devils are just 13-13-2 at home, and their 28 home points are the fourth-fewest in the league.
The Devils also play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, so Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen will split their two starts in some order. Allen said Markstrom was in St. Louis. After getting the start against St. Louis, he could be favored against the Panthers.
Nico Hischier (20 goals, 23 assists) and Jesper Bratt (13 goals, 30 assists) are tied for the New Jersey team lead with 43 points each. Hischier leads the club in goals and Bratt in assists.
Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers in goals (28), assists (29) and points (57).
Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start again for the Panthers on Tuesday. Time may have finally caught up with Bobrovsky in his 16th NHL season, as the goaltender struggled to a 22-18-1 record, an .872 save percentage, and a 3.13 goals-against average.
The home team won the two previous meetings between the Panthers and Devils this season.
–Field level media
