Dvorak, Horton score in 3rd as Florida Panthers beat New Jersey Devils 3-2

Panthers get 3-2 win over playoff-bound Devils

SUNRISE, Fla. — Radek Dvorak and Nathan Horton scored in the third period to help the Florida Panthers beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Thursday night.

Scott Clemmensen stopped 42 shots against his former New Jersey teammates, and Michael Frolik added a goal for the Panthers, who won for the second time in eight games.

Patrik Elias and David Clarkson scored for the Devils in their final road game of the regular season. Coming off the 600th win of his NHL career on Tuesday night in Atlanta, Martin Brodeur made 15 saves.

Clemmensen, who signed a three-year contract with the Panthers in July, faced the Devils for the second time this season. He stopped 26 shots in a 4-2 Florida win in New Jersey on Dec. 11.

Coming off the 600th win of his NHL career on Tuesday night in Atlanta, Martin Brodeur made 15 saves.

The Devils, who will be making their 13th consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs, will now have to wait a little longer to clinch the Atlantic Division. They needed both a win over Florida and a Pittsburgh regulation loss to the New York Islanders to claim the title.

The Panthers were already eliminated from playoff contention.

Dvorak gave the Panthers their first lead of the night with his goal at 1:14 of the third period. Set up by Rostislav Olesz’s pass from behind the net, Dvorak scored on a shot from the slot. Horton then stretched Florida’s lead to 3-1 at 12:23 in the third when he scored on a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle.

Clarkson closed the gap to 3-2 at 14:46 of the third, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Florida tied it at 1 with Frolik’s goal at 6:03 in the second period. Frolik took a cross-ice pass from Horton and beat Brodeur with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle. It was the 20th goal of the season for Frolik.

Elias opened the scoring 59 seconds into the second. Clemmensen stopped the intial shot with his leg pad and a second chance then went off the crossbar. That’s when Elias tipped in the puck to give New Jersey at 1-0 lead.

NOTES: Bryan Allen (ribs) returned to the ice for Florida after missing two games. … Florida will wrap up its season with a home-and-home series against Tampa Bay this weekend. New Jersey will return to home ice for games against the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. … Florida signed G Marc Cheverie to an entry-level contract.