SUNRISE, Fla. _ The Panthers heard about it for two days, the embarrassing 0-for-7 on the power play in Tuesday's loss to Boston sitting sour in their stomachs like a bad meal in a greasy spoon.
Indigestion yielded to the sweet taste of success as goals on their first two power-play chances.
Still, it took a one-man rush by Vincent Trocheck in overtime for a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday at the BB&T Center.
Trocheck put his own rebound past Cory Schneider with 44 seconds remaining in the extra session after his initial shot was denied. It was Trocheck's second goal of the game and sixth of the season, and the Panthers second win in overtime over the Devils in three weeks.
The Panthers got their power play back on track, but indigestion returned as heartburn Thursday as they allowed the Devils to scratch back from a two-goal deficit in the third period and force overtime.
Pavel Zacha's first NHL goal with less than four minutes remaining in regulation tied it 3-3.
Florida forged an early lead when two of the youngest Panthers, Aaron Ekblad, 20, and Denis Malgin, 19, found the net with blistering shots, providing the fuel needed for a split in the brief homestand.
It was the second goal of the season for each of them. Malgin registered his first career goal Tuesday and has been playing with increasing confidence since making the roster as the surprised of training camp.
"He's getting two or three good chances every night," coach Gerard Gallant said after morning skate. "That's what you want from those young kids. He looks like a dangerous player right now to me."
Jaromir Jagr, older than the combined ages of Ekblad and Malgin, showed his stick-handling prowess in setting up Trocheck's fifth goal of the season early in the third period.
James Reimer, getting his second start in goal in three games, turned in a solid effort in net with 33 saves for his second win as a Panther.
Most important to the cause was the Panthers' power play getting its mojo back.
Ekblad said Wednesday the remedy was simple: shoot more, get the puck on the net.
The All-Star defenseman demonstrated to perfection as the Panthers took care of business on their first chance on Ekblad's one-timer at 12:58 of the opening period.
Gallant had chided the power-play unit for being too cute with passing against the Bruins while assertiveness was lacking.
There was nothing cute about Ekblad's shot, which was a blast from the left circle that was a blur as it rocketed past Cory Schneider top shelf on the stick side. But the pass from Keith Yandle from the high point was soft and sweet, and it had the effect of virtually teeing up the opportunity for Ekblad to ram in his second goal of the season.
It was the only shot on goal on that power play, but it was the right one.
"I think we played better and it's good that our power play got one early. It gets our confidence back there," forward Jonathan Marchessault said on the radio broadcast following the first period.
Malgin's goal, at 6:44 of the second period, came on a slap shot from the right. A broken stick left one of the Devils empty-handed, adding to the Panthers' advantage, and Malgin made the most of it.
The Devils cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the second on a power-play goal of their own with Greg McKegg in the box for tripping. Kyle Palmieri's initial shot took a fortuitous deflection for New Jersey off the skate of defenseman Alex Petrovic. It found its way to the stick of Travis Zajac and he rammed it past Reimer, who had stopped 54 of his previous 56 shots he faced over two games.
Trocheck restored the two-goal advantage after Jagr skated off the bench, weaved through the offensive zone and set him up with a cross-ice pass.
The Devils answered 20 seconds later when P.A. Parenteau was left alone on the doorstep, where John Moore found him with a pass from behind the net.
Reimer had no chance on the tip-in, but he made numerous clutch saves throughout the game. He denied Ben Lovejoy on an open shot from the slot with the Devils on the power play and seeking the equalizer in the third period.
