New York Islanders keep Florida Panthers at bay with shootout 3-2 win -NHL Update
Florida Panthers are hoping for only one thing right now and that is to keep their place in the Western Conference and South East Division, but a shootout loss to New York Islanders on Sunday night, March 25, 2012, at the BankAtlantic Center in Florida,
3-2, things are not looking up for them.
With the final few games remaining and Washington Capitals have won their past two straight now, Florida is only three points ahead of the trailing team. Giving up the spot would put them back down to number-eight in the West along with having to fight off
other teams in order to keep a playoff spot.
Losing their playoff spot near the end of the season might seem outrageous at the moment, but it certainly cannot be ruled out as a possibility.
"We're frustrated," said veteran defenseman, Ed Jovanovski. "We'd like to get four out of four points. It's two teams that are below us in the standings that we feel that we should beat."
Shootouts have not been their area of dominance this season looking at their 5-10 track record, but entering the postseason for the first time in over a decade, Florida will have to work on it now or never, something that coach Kevin Dineen certainly is
focusing on.
"Unfortunately for us, the shootout has been a little bit of a stickler this year," Dineen said. "Obviously, we approach that in different manners and it still continues to be a little bit of an issue for us and something that we have enjoy getting out
and enjoy being a part of. That's a big difference when you are engaged in that shootout and feel like you're going out there with a little swagger to it.”
Stephen Weiss added his 19th goal of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) 5:55 into the first.
Matt Moulson followed up with the equaliser at 18:57 into the power play and
Tomas Fleischmann got the much need goal for Florida midway through the third but Kyle Okposo’s levelling attempt forced the overtime extension.
Frans Nielsen scored the only shot of the shootout on New York’s first attempt while Evgeni Nabokov blocked all three of Florida’s opening chances.
New York Islanders have the next against Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday while Montreal Canadiens will host Florida Panthers the same day.
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