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  Wednesday, Jan. 26 7:30pm ET
Elias scores with 1.7 seconds left
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Patrik Elias was in the right place at the right time for the streaking New Jersey Devils.

Elias scored with 1.7 seconds left to give New Jersey a 3-2 victory over Florida on Wednesday night, extending his Devils-record point streak to 14 games.

Martin Brodeur
Scott Stevens, right, helps Devils goalie Martin Brodeur keep the puck out of the net and away from Rob Niedermayer, left.

New Jersey, first in the NHL with 70 points, has won five straight, six in a row on the road and is 12-1-2 in its last 15 games. The Devils' only loss, 3-2 to Washington on Jan. 14, came in overtime and also netted them a point.

Elias intercepted Robert Svehla's clearing pass to the right of goalie Mike Vernon. The Czech star skated in, faked, and slipped the puck past Vernon's glove side for a dramatic victory.

"I anticipated a pass on the right side and didn't turn my head away like I was giving up on the play," Elias said. "Then I just stopped, faked him. It couldn't have worked out more perfect."

"I have no answer for anything Robert Svehla was thinking," Panthers coach Terry Murray said. "I can't comprehend what he was thinking. One-point-seven seconds. That's very frustrating."

Elias has 20 goals in his last 21 games, and 15 goals and eight assists during the streak.

Martin Brodeur made 21 saves to extend his winning streak to 10 games and tie his franchise record of 14 straight games without a loss. He's 12-0-2 in his last 14.

"Elias cut the corner close, but he did it," said Brodeur, the fourth goalie to record five straight 30-victory seasons.

"I'm happy the 30th win is all over with. With a lot of people making a big deal about it, it sometimes gets a little harder."

Only one penalty -- a late second-period tripping call on New Jersey's Brad Bombardir -- was called in the game. It was the first time Florida has not been called for a penalty.

Florida opened the scoring on Viktor Kozlov's first-period goal. Randy McKay tied it at 5:21 of the third period, but Mark Parrish put Florida back in front with a breakaway goal at 8:58.

Jason Arnott tied it with 9:13 left, deflecting Sheldon Souray's shot from the point past Vernon.

"We're playing well right now but Patrik is leading the way," McKay said.

The Panthers dropped to 17-5-2 at home, and are 6-2-1 in their last nine games.

"One second left ... we could've at least gotten one point," Parrish said. "This one's going to sting a little bit."

 


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RECAPS
St. Louis 4
Ottawa 1

Washington 2
Calgary 1

Phoenix 0
Atlanta 0

Detroit 4
Toronto 2

New Jersey 3
Florida 2

Dallas 3
Los Angeles 1

NY Islanders 4
Anaheim 2

AUDIO/VIDEO
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 Patrik Elias scores the game-winning goal. (courtesy NHL/ Fox Sports)
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