Tomas Vokoun made 32 saves, including 21 in the
opening period, to post his second consecutive shutout, as the Florida
Panthers defeated the spiraling Carolina Hurricanes, 3-0, at BankAtlantic
Center.
Vokoun turned aside all 34 shots in Saturday's 4-0 triumph in St. Louis.
Steven Reinprecht, Cory Stillman and Bryan Allen each scored in the third
period for the Panthers, who have won three straight overall.
Cam Ward stopped 22 shots for the Hurricanes, who set a franchise record with
their 10th consecutive loss. Carolina also played its first game without top
forward Eric Staal, who is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
Florida broke the scoreless tie at 5:09 when Stillmam fired a wrister from the
left circle that went off of Reinprecht in front of the net.
Stillman lit the lamp on the power play with 6:16 left and Allen's empty-net
tally sealed the victory with 2:01 remaining.
Game Notes
It was the 33rd shutout of Vokoun's career...Staal missed a game for the first
time since his rookie season of 2003-04, ending a streak of 349 consecutive
regular-season appearances...Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason returned to the
lineup after missing five straight games due to an upper-body injury...Both
clubs play on Friday. Carolina returns home to battle the Maple Leafs, while
the Panthers host Washington.
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