PANTHERS 4, DEVILS 2: Stephen Weiss scored a pair of power play goals and Marcel Goc had a goal and an assist as host Florida leveled its Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with New Jersey at one game apiece.

Florida jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Weiss’ first two career playoff goals and a tally from Marcel Goc late in the second period. Weiss became the only player in franchise history to tally two power play goals to lift the Panthers to their first playoff victory since April 17, 1997.

The Devils came alive early in the third, scoring twice in a 74-second span on markers from Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk to cut the Florida lead to 3-2. Kovalchuk had a chance to knot the contest at 3-3 late in the final frame when he fired a one-timer just wide of the right post from close range.

Tomas Fleischmann added an empty-net goal with one second remaining to seal the victory.

Jose Theodore was solid in goal, making 23 saves to earn his 20th career playoff win.

The series shifts to New Jersey for Game 3 on Tuesday.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Weiss’ goal 23 seconds in was the fastest goal in Panthers playoff history and the quickest playoff power-play marker in the NHL since 1987… New Jersey had its seven-game winning streak snapped.