NEWARK, N.J. — A one-game showdown to win their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Neither New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer nor Florida coach Kevin Dineen is complaining about the prospect. The series between the sixth-seeded Devils and third-seeded Panthers has been close, so it's appropriate it comes down to 60 minutes, or more.

The Devils staved off elimination and forced the deciding contest when Travis Zajac scored at 5:39 of overtime in a 3-2 win over the Panthers on Tuesday night.

Game 7 will be played in Sunrise, Fla. on Thursday night.

“They are fun to be part of,” said Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who has played in two Game 7s to decide Stanley Cup titles, not just series. “When you're a kid you always go out and say, ‘This is Game 7 for all the marbles.' It brings back good memories because of that.”

Dineen smiled when asked about playing in a Game 7 that would give the Panthers their first series win since 1996.

“We're fine,” he said. “We're going back home. This is where we are. It comes down to one game.”