On Frozen Pond

Florida Panthers Notebook: Clemmensen Starts ... Jason Garrison a Late Scratch; Keaton Ellerby Hurt in Replacement Role ... Tickets Going Fast for Game 5

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

NEWARK, N.J. – Scott Clemmensen spent seven years with the Devils organization, yet with Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur in front of him, he never got to start a playoff game in New Jersey.

That all changed on Thursday as Clemmensen was in net – against his old mentor – when the Panthers took on the Devils in Game 4 of their best-of-7 opening round series.

"I'll be ready,'' Clemmensen said before the game. “I'm 34-year-old and getting my first start in the playoffs. I've felt very much a part of this team all year long. I've played pretty much regularly all year long.

“As I've said, I expected to play some and contribute regardless if it was getting thrown into a game or starting a game. For me it's just about going out there and playing my game. It's the playoffs and things are going to get amped up a little bit.''

Clemmensen took over for starter Jose Theodore on Tuesday after Florida's starter gave up three goals on six shots.

Although coach Kevin Dineen said he didn't blame Theodore for the goals, Clemmensen's strong play – as well as some sloppy penalties by the Devils – helped keep the Panthers in the game. Florida rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 and take a 2-1 lead in the series.

It's obvious Clemmensen earned his start.

"I think both teams have learned in this series that momentum swings can be dramatic,'' said Clemmensen, who gave up five goals in his five games heading into Thursday. “If you have a three-goal lead or you're down by three goals you have to keep playing. I think both teams realize the importance of that. We happened to come out on top in two of the three games but it's still anyone's series."

-- Defenseman Jason Garrison was a late healthy scratch with what Dineen said was "two" lower body problems. Garrison is said to be day-to-day.

Garrison took part in the morning skate with Keaton Ellerby – in the lineup for the first time since March 15 – was sent out for extra practice time with the rest of the healthy scratches.

Ellerby wasn't told until just before the game that he would be playing.

Ellerby left the game in the second period when he was rammed into the Devils bench where the open door met the stanchion. Ellerby looked to be in severe pain and has a lower body injury.

Tomas Fleischmann missed the morning skate but was back on the top line Tuesday night.

Wojtek Wolski filled in for Fleischmann but was a healthy scratch for the second straight night. Mike Santorelli and Krys Barch were the other players held out.

() Dineen criticized the soupy ice after Tuesday's morning skate and said even though it was better later that night – it really couldn't have been worse – it wasn't the best of conditions saying players from both sides were tripping and falling.

The ice was much improved on Thursday as it was much cooler Wednesday and Thursday; the area had a couple of days earlier in the week in which the temperature came close to 90.

Devils coach Pete DeBoer had nothing bad to say about the ice at BankAtlantic Center when asked Tuesday saying he was still friends with the guys who make the ice there.

“I felt bad about [my comments] the other day but that's one of those situations where you get caught off guard," Dineen said. "There are always people who work hard behind the scenes. "We're used to 80-degree weather in Florida. A couple days ago it was 80 degrees here, so I think there was some management there.

“The joke [in South Florida] is girls love coming to our games because that's when they get to wear their sweaters. It's so chilly in that rink. .-.-. I'm sure it will be tinkered with. A quality place like this wants to put on the best product. It's a fabulous building."

() The Panthers announced they have sold out single game tickets for the lower bowl and club level seating for Game 5 on Saturday.

Only a limited amount remain for those who purchase season tickets for the 2012-13 season. The Panthers also said they are close to selling out upper deck tickets as well.

SATURDAY'S GAME: Devils at Panthers, BankAtlantic Center, 6:30 p.m. (FS Florida)

Florida Panthers Headed Back to the Sunshine State Even with Devils after 4-0 Loss ... Martin Brodeur Sets Postseason Record with 24th Shutout

BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com

TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond

NEWARK, N.J. – Panthers fans coming into the Prudential Center for Thursday's game carrying rubber rats had them confiscated by arena security.

They wouldn't need them anyway.

The Devils broke open a close game by erupting for three goals on four shots early in the final period to rout the Panthers 4-0.

New Jersey's win tied the best-of-7 series at two each and assured a return trip to Newark for Florida next week. Game 5 is Saturday at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise with Game 6 scheduled for Tuesday.

The Panthers are now in a best-of-3 series with two games at home.

“It would have been nice to get a couple goals early, but we're going home with two of three at home. We're in good shape,'' Stephen Weiss said. “That's a good club and they were desperate.''

Martin Broduer, who was pulled when Florida came back with three straight goals on Tuesday, was as sharp as ever and stopped all 26 shots to earn his 24th postseason shutout. Broduer now holds the NHL record for postseason shutouts, passing Montreal/Colorado great Patrick Roy.

“We knew they would be a very hungry team and they proved that,'' said Scott Clemmensen, who gave up four goals on 27 shots in his first postseason start. “You knew Marty would have a bounce-back game. There would be no easy goals. They needed to be desperate and they were. They didn't want to go down 3-1. It's anyone's series. It's been a tight series.''

Before the game, coach Kevin Dineen “guaranteed” that if his team fell behind 3-0 again – it had happened twice before in the series – they would not recover. Right he was. Florida gave up its first goal in the second period before the Devils took their third 3-0 lead of the series in the third period.

Soon afterward, New Jersey made it 4-0 and the Panthers were done.

One team has held a 3-0 lead in each game of the series; New Jersey did it in Games 1, 3 and 4; the Panthers were up 3-0 in Game 2, holding on for a 4-2 win.

Florida's power play came into the night as hot as it could be with the Panthers going 3-for-3 with the advantage in Tuesday's victory. The Panthers power play looked very good at times on Thursday yet Florida couldn't put anything past the 39-year-old Brodeur.

The Panthers went 0-for-6 with the extra skater on Thursday and are now 6-for-16 in the four games this series.

Florida had a great scoring chance on the power play in the first when an Ed Jovanovski shot hit Sean Bergenheim in front of the net. His shot went wide and was loose, only no Florida player was there to knock it through.

“We had lots of chances out there,'' Dineen said. “In all honesty we weren't very accurate. I think we wanted to create off rebounds instead of trying to score off the shot. That's not a good recipe for us against a goalie like that.''

After going through the first scoreless opening period of the series, the Panthers finally surrendered a goal when Keaton Ellerby – filling in for an injured Jason Garrison – went to the box for high-sticking 4:38 into the second. With 30 seconds left in the power play, Marek Zidlicky's long shot clipped both Travis Zajac and Zach Parise past Clemmensen.

The score stayed 1-0 going into the third, but it wouldn't stay that was for long. New Jersey made it 2-0 when Steve Bernier – who spent a forgettable season in Sunrise last year – one-timed a loose puck off the skate of teammate Stephen Gionta and past Clemmensen.

The Devils made it 3-0 on Zajac's long shot from the slot 90 seconds later than closed things out when Ilya Kovalchuk zipped one from the left side with 11:28 remaining.

“It got away from us in the third and that really started in the second,'' Dineen said. “We didn't seem to have the desperation they did. It was a one-goal game so it's a doable game especially the way we've played this year. But we were out of sorts in the third and couldn't get our offensive game going. We were on the receiving end and didn't have many answers.''

The physical nature of the game intensified in the final few minutes of the game. Although it was nothing compared to the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh series, there were some shots coming from both sides.

With 4:09 left, Florida's Jerred Smithson went to the box for hitting Alexei Ponikarovsky in the back after he put a stick into Brian Campbell's face. Later, both Marco Sturm and Bernier got into it. David Clarkson left the game with 21 seconds left on a game misconduct.

“We respect those guys and they respect us,'' Kopecky said. “But we're both going to do whatever it takes to win. You have to keep your composure for the whole 60 minutes.''

Thursday's Game 4 Notebook: #FlaPanthers Going with Scott Clemmensen ... Wolski Still Out

NEWARK, N.J. -- As expected, the Panthers are going with Scott Clemmensen in net tonight as they go after the host Devils in Game 4 of the best-of-7 series.

Florida holds a 2-1 advantage in the series.

Both Clemmensen and coach Kevin Dineen said all the right things today regarding the start -- well Dineen didn't confirm it -- as Clemmensen has been outstanding of late.

Not only did Clemmensen stop all 19 shots faced against the Devils on Tuesday in relief of Jose Theodore, but he's given up just five goals in his past five games. 

"I believe I'm playing my best hockey right now," he said.

Clemmensen is 5-0 against the Devils -- an organization he spent seven years with.

"I like these fans,'' he said. "They're a lot of fun. I don't care how loud they boo me, I love them."

Pete DeBoer is going back with Martin Brodeur as expected. Clemmensen said Brodeur will be fine despite being pulled from Tuesday's game.

"I knew as soon as I pulled him,'' DeBoer said, "I'd be going back to him."

--Tomas Fleischmann didn't partake in the morning skate. Wotjek Wolski replaced him on the top line for the practice.

Only Fleischmann will be back in the lineup tonight. 

Wolski, as was the case Tuesday, will be a healthy scratch. So, too, will be Mike Santorelli, Krys Barch and Keaton Ellerby.

--The ice at the morning skate was fine and Dineen all but apologized for ripping the poor ice conditions at Tuesday's skate. 

Dineen admitted the Jersey rink isn't used to consecutive days of 80-plus degrees like his arena is and the place was probably just too warm.

It's a beautiful day today, but it's in the 60s -- as it was yesterday.

The ice shouldn't be a factor tonight. 

--Dineen made one prediction: 

"Here's one guarantee: If we spot them three, we're not going to be able to come back tonight," Dineen said.

"You don't get away with that time after time. We're going to have to play a more consistent brand of hockey. We're not going to steal anything out of this building. We're going to have to earn everything we get."