Devils winger Patrik Elias came straight to the point.

He cost the Devils a hockey game and it has put them one game down in their series against the Florida Panthers.

“I have to take this one on me,” Elias said after the 4-3 loss Tuesday night in Game 3. “A stupid penalty by me. We’re up, 3-0, in the first period and I took a totally unnecessary penalty that got their momentum going. And then on their tying goal, we were battling hard in their zone and I just threw it away. Bad decisions by me.

"It's a big game and we know their power play is good so we have to really focus on staying out of the box."

His penalty came at 15:16 of the first period. The Devils were less than five minutes from bringing a 3-0 lead into the break when Elias tripped Panthers Erik Gudbranson along the end boards on a harmless icing.

The result was a power play goal by Sean Bergenheim that got the Panthers started.

"Stupid play by me," Elias said. "Uncalled-for. It cost us the hockey game."

Bryce Salvador took a roughing penalty at 18:13 and Florida scored again on a power play goal from Jason Garrison with 7.4 seconds left in the period.

"The first two penalties by Sal and Patrik. We can't put ourselves in that position," coach Pete DeBoer said.

The Panthers wound up winning the on a third power play goal, from Brian Campbell at 6:34 of the second period.

“You see if we play the right way we’re all over them," Elias said. "But when we get out of our game, I don’t know if it’s with lack of discipline or the way we play, we give them life. We make them look good. They’re good when you give them time.”