Recap: Panthers fall to NHL .500 with 4-2 loss to Devils

The Florida Panthers dropped a tough 4-2 decision to the New Jersey Devils, who ended a six-game losing streak, at FLA Live Arena in a game broadcast to a national audience on TNT.

Jeckyll showed up first as the Cats took an early lead at 4:45 when Eric Staal potted a rebound after he was initally denied by Mackenzie Blackwood, who lost his goal stick, and Nick Cousins and Ryan Lomberg took unsuccessful cracks at it. Four-four-four, the number of the Staal.

A hi-sticking penalty on Anton Lundell and a Staal faceoff loss allowed the Devils to even the score 2:16 later. Dougie Hamilton sent a short cross to Jack Hughes, who went back across the grain to Jesper Bratt in the right circle. Bratt…