NHL: New Jersey 7, Florida 2

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Zach Parise scored twice in the first period to fuel the New Jersey Devils' 7-2 rout of the Florida Panthers.

The goals, one unassisted, gave him 38 this season.

He also assisted on Travis Zajac's 18th at 15:56 of the second when New Jersey settled the issue by scoring four goals to build a 6-1 advantage.

Brendan Shanahan, Brian Rolston, David Clarkson and Dainius Zubrus also scored once each. Goalie Martin Brodeur, making his second start since returning from a near four-month absence (biceps injury), made 15 saves on 17 shots for the Devils, who recorded their 12th straight 40-win regular season.

They were 3-1 against Florida in the season series.

Florida's goals were scored by Ville Peltonen in the second and Bryan McCabe in the third.

Netminder Craig Anderson was beaten seven times on 46 shots for the Panthers, who have split their last four outings.