Travis Zajac was New Jersey's savior Tuesday after his overtime goal lifted the Devils to a 3-2 win over Florida and forced a Game Seven decider in their NHL Eastern Conference playoff series. On the brink of elimination, the Devils came out all guns blazing and built a 2-0 lead on goals from Steve Bernier and Ilya Kovalchuk. However, the visiting Panthers clawed their way back to 2-2 before the end of the second period after Kris Versteeg and Sean Bergenheim beat Devils' netminder Martin Brodeur. Despite squandering a two-goal lead, Zajac said New Jersey had gone into overtime confident of getting the winner. “We said, ‘It's there for us, we just need to push'. We did that, and we were able to get one,” Zajac told reporters. “We have to duplicate this game.” The Devils, who outshot the Panthers 42-16, will travel to Florida for the series finale Thursday. “The possession certainly leaned toward the Devils tonight, that was the difference in the hockey game,” Florida coach Kevin Dineen said. “Playing as much defense as we did, it tends to wear you down. This was (New Jersey's) best game in this series, they had a heck of a lot of desperation.” Goaltender Scott Clemmensen made 39 stops for the Panthers, who are looking for their first playoff series win since 1996. Wily veteran Brodeur made just 14 saves as he extended his decorated career with the Devils for at least one more game. Tallon wins honor Dale Tallon's overhaul of the Florida Panthers' roster, which led to the team's first division title, earned him a nomination for the General Manager of the Year Award, the NHL said Tuesday. Doug Armstrong of the St. Louis Blues and David Poile of the Nashville Predators were the other two finalists for the award, which will be presented June 20 at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas. Montreal Canadiens left winger Max Pacioretty, who missed his club's final 15 games last year after a devastating hit, was named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy awarded to the player who exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Right wing Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators and left wing Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs were the other Masterton finalists.
