=== New Jersey Devils Team Report - March 4 === (My Sportsbook) - Scott Gomez scored a goal and assisted on four others for a five-point night, as the New Jersey Devils ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 rout of the Florida Panthers at the Office Depot Center. Patrik Elias scored twice and added an assist for New Jersey, while Brian Gionta and Scott Niedermayer also found the back of the net. Martin Brodeur finished with 27 saves and improved to 21-2-3 in his last 26 games against the Panthers. The game was tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes, but New Jersey erupted for three goals in the second to break it open. The Devils had scored only a total of three goals in their previous three games. Elias reached 30 goals for the third time in his career and for the first time since the 2000-01 season. He had 29 in '01-02 and 28 last year. Elias has 199 goals for his NHL career. On the injury front, defenseman Brian Rafalski returned from a knee injury to notch three assists in the victory. He missed only one game with the ailment. With 80 points, the Devils are six points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for first place in the Atlantic Division. Jersey is sixth in the Eastern Conference standings as a whole -- two behind No. 5 Boston. The Devils, who had lost four of their last five road games, will visit Tampa on Friday. |
