Panthers-Devils Preview: The Drought is Over

The Florida Panthers are in the playoffs for the first time in years, but face a tall task against the Devils

For the first time in a decade, it's playoff hockey time in South Florida. The Florida Panthers will end the longest playoff drought in NHL history when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday night in Game 1 of their first round series.

It has been 12 years since the Panthers made their last playoff appearance, but they are not without playoff experience. Fifteen of the 20 players on Florida's roster have playoff experience - with other teams, that is. The offseason roster makeover undertaken by general manager Dale Tallon brought in that experience, and it paid off.

That experience will have to come in handy again if the Panthers want to overtake the Devils. Though Florida is a higher seed thanks to its Southeast Division title, the Devils actually finished the regular season with more points in the standings (yay weird seeding rules!).

Oddly enough, it was the Devils who gave the Panthers a first-round exit in their last playoff appearance, back in 2000. But the Panthers are not too concerned about their underdog status this time around.

""We shouldn't feel any pressure," defenseman Brian Campbell told the Sun Sentinel on Thursday. "Nobody is picking us to win the series, which is fine by us. Just go out there and play hockey and stay loose. See what happens."

The Devils allowed the 8th fewest goals in the league during the regular season, anchored by veteran goalie Martin Brodeur. The Panthers struggled to score this season; only five squads notched fewer goals than the Panthers' 203.

The Panthers will have to clamp down on defense if they want to fend off the Devils. New Jersey was in the middle of the pack in goals scored this season, but rookie Adam Henrique has turned into a bona fide scoring threat. His 51 points lead all rookies, while his four short-handed goals lead the NHL.

The biggest question facing the Panthers will be who minds the net against New Jersey. Coach Kevin Dineen has to decide whether to give Scott Clemmensen starts ahead of regular goalie Jose Theodore. Theodore has not had a win in his last seven starts, and Clemmensen has been especially hot as of late. He doesn't have anywhere near the playoff experience of Theodore, though.

Still, the Panthers do not seem too worried about their prospects. "From here on in, it's just bonus time," Tallon said earlier this week. "Let's shoot for the moon."

Game 1 starts Friday at 7 on the NHL Network. 

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