Jagr lifts Panthers in season finale
SUNRISE — On Fan Appreciation Night, the players gave the fans something to appreciate besides $50,000 worth of giveaways and the jerseys off their backs. They gave them hope for the future.
After knocking off the disheveled Devils 3-2 Saturday night at the BB&T Center in a matchup of two teams heading for the golf course, the Panthers finished off the 2014-15 season as the most improved club in the NHL. It just wasn’t good enough. “It wasn’t a meaningful game in the standings,’’ Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. “But we deserved to finish the season out in the right way.’’
A few days after paying back the Bruins for basically ending their playoff hopes, the Panthers also avenged two beatings at the Devils’ hands (8-2 combined score)
when ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr — who was acquired from the Devils last month — played pinball in front before scoring the game-winning power-play goal at 12:23 of the third.
“They can’t afford me,’’ Jagr joked about an imminent contract with the Panthers. “It’s a tough game to play. Both teams are out of the playoffs. We played for our fans.
“If you don’t go 100 percent you might get hurt. I just wanted to have fun. … It’s getting close. I wanted $10 million, they give me one million, so it’s very close,’’ he added with a laugh. “The team wants me here and I want to be here. I love this team.’’
A year after finishing 29-45-8 (66 points) the Panthers wind up at 38-29-15 (91), a league-best 25-point improvement. The 38 wins ties for the fourth most in franchise history, five behind the 2000-01 version (43-27-6).
It’s just the fifth time in 21 seasons the Panthers have notched 90 or more points, and the second time that it wasn’t enough for a postseason berth (2008-09).
“We’re not one of 16,’’ said Panthers captain Willie Mitchell after morning skate. “You have some time to reflect a little bit. The identity we want to have around here is a hardworking team, tight defensively. We’re in every game and I think we’re starting to carve that. I truly believe that.
“Our goal at the start of this year was getting in the playoffs. We fell short, so we feel disappointed. I feel like we let ownership, the organization and fans down a little bit because that’s ultimately where we want to be every year. I feel definitely this group could’ve been there this year.
“I don’t think anyone wanted to play us [in the playoffs].’’
After a scoreless first period the Devils took a 1-0 lead 1:50 into the second when Jordin Tootoo onetimed it past Al Montoya (31 saves) on the short side. At 11:08, Dave Bolland worked a sweet give-andgo with Brad Boyes before tucking the puck past Cory Schneider for his sixth.
“It’s an improvement. We’re disappointed we didn’t make the playoffs but that’s what we’re working for,’’ Bolland said.
Jagr’s shot caromed to Jonathan Huberdeau, who flicked it in at 7:59 of the third period for a brief lead. It was Huberdeau’s careerhigh 15th goal and teamleading 54th point. The Devils tied it 2-2 at 12:23 on Damon Severson’s wrister from the circle.
The Devils have lost 11 of their last 12, and are in the early stages of a rebuilding phase, one that became a lot younger when they shipped the 43-year-old Jagr to the Panthers on Feb. 26. All Jagr has done is form one of the league’s top trios with Huberdeau and19-year-old Aleksander Barkov, while chipping in 18 points in 20 games.
Luongo MVP
The fans picked goalie Roberto Luongo as the team “MVP” and Gallant called him the “backbone” of the team. He gave the 36-year-old the last game off and started Montoya for the first time since March 1 while he recovered from a groin injury.
After morning skate Luongo admitted that he had been playing with a chipped bone in his right shoulder since getting hit by a puck in the bizarre March 3rd loss to Toronto, but wouldn’t use it as an excuse for going 5-3-1in the ensuing games. Surgery won’t be necessary.