Panthers fizzle on power plays, can’tcatch Devils

17-4 shot edge in third period doesn’t produce tying goal.

NEWARK, N.J. — Cory Schneider made 32 saves to help the New Jersey Devils top the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Saturday night.

Damon Severson and Kyle Palmieri scored for New Jersey (10-4-2), which had dropped four in a row.

The Panthers have lost seven of 10. James Reimer made 19 stops, and Nick Bjugstad scored Florida’s goal.

Florida finished with a 33-21 advantage in shots, and the loudest reaction from the crowd of 16,514 occurred after defenseman Steven Santini drove Florida center Aleksander Barkov into the Panthers’ bench late in the second period.

Severson put New Jersey in front 5:59 into the game with his second goal of the season. Jimmy Hayes won an offensive zone face-off back to Severson, who fired a wrist shot past a screened Reimer.

Schneider madeasprawling stop on Jona t han Huberdeau during the first of three Panthers power plays late in the first period.

While Florida was unable to take advantage of its power plays, the Devils used a twoman advantage early in the second to extend their lead.

With Connor Brickley (interference) and Micheal Haley (tripping) serving two-minute minors, Palmieri converted a slap shot from the left circle.

New Jersey went 1 for 2 on the man advantage, and killed all four Florida power plays.

The Panthers cut the lead in half on Bjugstad’s third goal of the season at 7:20 of the second. Florida had a golden chance to tie the game 3:33 later but Schnei- der stopped Colton Sceviour from in close.

That was as close as Florida would get, despite outshooting New Jersey 17-4 in the third.

Noteworthy: Centers Travis Zajac and Michael McLeod participated in the Devils’ morning skate. Zajac underwent surgery in August to repair a torn pectoral muscle, and McLeod tore the meniscus in his left knee in September. Coach John Hynes told reporters that Zajac could return to the lineup as soon as this week. Hynes noted he has to speak to general manager Ray Shero about whether New Jersey will return McLeod to Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League. ...

Goaltender Antti Niemi and defenseman Alex Petrovic were scratched by Flori da, wh i le center Jared McCann missed his third straight game with a lower body injury. ...

New Jersey scratched defensemen Dalton Prout and Ben Lovejoy and center Pavel Zacha. ... The Devils wore camouflage warmup jerseys as part of the team’s Military Appreciation Night.

Up next: Panthers host Dallas on Tuesday night.