There were a lot of big names on the ice Tuesday night when the Florida Panthers faced the New Jersey Devils but the biggest offensive production came from Nick Cousins.
Got a problem with that?
Cousins, who came into the night with three goals this season, scored twice as the Panthers beat New Jersey 5-3 for their sixth consecutive win.
It was Cousins’ first two-goal game since 2020.
The Panthers, who went 3-0 on this three-games-in-four days roadtrip, come home having won 11 of 12 and 16 of their past 18.
Florida also extended its lead atop the NHL standings — and in road wins, now with 23.
Not too shabby.
The Panthers fulfilled coach Paul Maurice’s wishes for a quick start against a Devils team which made a coaching change the day before.
Florida took a 2-0 lead off goals from Cousins and Evan Rodrigues before the Devils battled back — and eventually tied the score at 2 midway through the second.
Eetu Luostarinen gave Florida the lead back at 12:37 of the second.
Jersey Guy Anthony Stolarz did the rest, beating his hometown Devils for the first time with 22 saves.
Matthew Tkachuk got his third assist of the night at 5:33 of the third when he fed Gus Forsling in the slot; his shot was deflected in by Cousins for a little breathing room.
New Jersey ended up pulling back within a goal, but Sam Reinhart iced it with the empty net goal.
Tkachuk became the fourth player in franchise history with consecutive 50-assist seasons — joining Jonathan Huberdeau, Sasha Barkov, and Olli Jokinen. All three did it twice.
1. Nick Cousins, Florida
2. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida
3. Anthony Stolarz, Florida
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