Devils get 3 power play scores, top Panthers 6-2 to finish sweep of Cup champs

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Jesper Bratt got his second career hat trick, Stefan Noesen scored twice and the New Jersey Devils beat the Florida Panthers 6-2 on Thursday night to sweep a two-game series with the Stanley Cup champions.

Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists for the Devils, who also won 4-1 in Florida on Tuesday. Jake Allen stopped 25 shots for New Jersey, which got three power-play scores — along with a short-handed empty-netter with 5:12 left, Bratt's third of the night — and is now 7-2-0 in its last nine games.

Sam Reinhart — the first player with 13 goals this season — and Jesper Boqvist scored for Florida, which hadn't dropped two straight since Oct. 10 and 12. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves.

Devils: New Jersey became the first team this season to get two goals in the final 12 seconds of periods. Both were power-play tallies; Bratt scored with two seconds left in the first, Noesen with 11 seconds left in the second.

Panthers: Florida got Sam Bennett back Thursday after he missed Tuesday's game with a minor upper-body issue. Bennett had an assist on Boqvist's goal.

The Panthers, down 4-2, opened the third period on a power play but it was wiped out 22 seconds later when Carter Verhaeghe was called for tripping — one of many calls that Florida wasn't thrilled about during the evening.

The Devils already have two games with three power-play goals this season. They had five in the last six regular seasons combined.

The Devils visit Tampa Bay on Saturday and will try to go 3-0-0 in Florida this season; they haven't had a perfect record in the Sunshine State (excluding COVID-affected seasons) since going 4-0-0 at Florida and Tampa Bay in 2000-01.

The Panthers host NHL-leading Winnipeg on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) and New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) attempts to score against New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) and defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (11) attempts a shot at Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) attempts a shot against New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) is unable to take a shot at New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen, second from left, celebrates with teammates after he scored during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers center Jesper Boqvist, center, scores against New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) and defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt, center, goes airborne as he and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, right, protect the net against New Jersey Devils left wing Ondrej Palat (18) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) is congratulated by teammates after he scored during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) and Florida Panthers left wing Tomas Nosek (92) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump met Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club with Argentine President Javier Milei, the first foreign leader to meet with the president-elect since his victory in last week's election.

The meeting was confirmed by a person who insisted on anonymity to discuss an event that hadn't yet been announced publicly. The person said the meeting went well and said Milei also met with investors.

A short time later, Milei, a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” and frequent recipient of Trump praise, addressed the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-a-Lago. He slammed left-wing ideologies and saluted Elon Musk, the owner of X, saying his social media site is helping to “save humanity.”

Trump also spoke to the gala crowd, congratulating Milei “for the job you've done for Argentina” and saying it was an “honor” to have Argentina's president at Mar-a-Lago.

“The job you've done is incredible. Make Argentina Great Again, you know, MAGA. He's a MAGA person,” Trump said to applause. “And you know, he's doing that.”

Shortly after Milei’s election in November 2023, Trump posted on social media, “You will turn your country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again!”

Milei first met Trump in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, in the Washington area. He has openly declared his admiration for Trump and when he saw him, he rushed to him screaming “president!” and gave him a close hug before they posed for pictures.

The Argentine president is known for his eccentric personality and first made a name for himself by shouting against Argentina’s “political caste” on television. The right-wing populist campaigned with a chainsaw as his prop to symbolize his plans to slash public spending and scrap government ministries.

Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

President-elect Donald Trump listens during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Argentina's President Javier Milei arrives to speak before President-elect Donald Trump during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)