Florida Panthers Shut New York Islanders Down, 4-1

First Period:

New goaltender, same story early. Jose Theodore returned from injury today to make his first start in goal in three weeks, giving Scott Clemmensen a well earned break.

Frans Nielsen put the Islanders up early, just four minutes into the game scoring his 10th goal of the season with assists from PA Parenteau (38) and Andrew MacDonald (6).

Tyson Strachan would net the equalizer for the Panthers with five minuter remaining in the period, scoring his first career goal with an assist from center Marcel Goc (10).

With just two minutes remaining in the period, Florida would give the Islanders their first power play chance of the game. Sean Bergenheim was called for holding Steve Staios, but Florida would effectively kill the penalty off, skating into the break with seven seconds left to kill.

Second Period:

The first line combined to put the Panthers up, 2-1 with four minutes gone in the second when Stephen Weiss (27) and Kris Versteeg (26) set up Tomas Fleischmann on Evgeny Nabokov's stick side for an easy goal. It was Fleischmann's 18th goal of the season, good for second on the Panthers.

Florida would have their first power play of the game at the midway point of the period, when Matt Martin was called for roughing Erik Gudbranson. Florida rolled out four forwards for the man advantage. Tomas Kopecky screened Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov while Kris Versteeg snapped one by him to double the Panthers lead. It was Versteeg's team leading 22nd goal. Tomas Fleischmann (24) and Brian Campbell (35) earned the plays' assists.

Jack Skille added to the Florida lead in his first game back from injury with a wrist shot, gathered straight off the Shawn Matthias (12) faceoff for his third goal of the season.

Third Period:

After allowing four goals on 15 shots through the first two periods, Evgeny Nabokov was pulled in favor of Al Montoya to mind the Islanders net in the third.

New York opened the period looking frisky, putting five shots on Jose Theodore through the first five minutes. They also were victimized by several blocked shots and a few missed.

At the seven minute mark, Fleischmann beat Nabokov but lost to the goal post, narrowly missing his third multi-goal game of the season, and his first since netting two against the Montreal Canadians on New Years Eve.

Erik Gudbranson was called for an obvious penalty, hooking PA Parenteau at the 10 minute mark. The Cats cleared it out and Tomas Kopecky almost scored a shorthanded goal, with only a stickless John Tavares to stop him. Montoya was equal to the task. Florida kept the puck out of their own zone for a large portion of the New York man advantage.

Florida shut down the Islanders for the rest of the game without much effort needed. Both teams were on the tail end of a back to back series. Florida clinched the season series, with one game to play.

Hits: Islanders, 26-20 (Tyson Strachan led all skaters with five, while Matt Martin led the Islanders with four.)

Blocked Shots: Panthers, 22-11 (Keaton Ellerby and Tyson Strachan each tallied five blocks for Florida. Frans Nielsen had three to lead New York.)

Faceoffs: Panthers, 28-23 (Marcel Goc won 13 of 22 faceoffs, John Tavares won nine of 24 for New York.)

Shots on Goal: Islanders, 27-19 (John Tavares led the Islanders by a wide margin with seven. Kris Versteeg and Tomas Kopecky had three tries each to pace the Panthers.)

Score: Panthers 4, Islanders 1

Florida Panthers Score Three In The Second Period, Lead New York Islanders, 4-1

The first line combined to put the Panthers up, 2-1 with four minutes gone in the second when Stephen Weiss (27) and Kris Versteeg (26) set up Tomas Fleischmann on Evgeny Nabokov’s stick side for an easy goal. It was Fleischmann’s 18th goal of the season, good for second on the Panthers.

Florida would have their first power play of the game at the midway point of the period, when Matt Martin was called for roughing Erik Gudbranson. Florida rolled out four forwards for the man advantage. Tomas Kopecky screened Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov while Kris Versteeg snapped one by him to double the Panthers lead. It was Versteeg’s team leading 22nd goal. Tomas Fleischmann (24) and Brian Campbell (35) earned the plays’ assists.

Jack Skille added to the Florida lead in his first game back from injury with a wrist shot, gathered straight off the Shawn Matthias (12) faceoff for his third goal of the season.

Hits: Islanders, 16-15

Blocked Shots: Panthers, 14-10

Faceoffs: Panthers, 23-14

Shots on Goal: Islanders, 16-15

Score: Panthers 4, Islanders 1

Florida Panthers Visit New York Islanders: Starting Lineups And Injury Report

Todays starting lineups:

Florida:

Forwards:

Tomas Fleischmann - Stephen Weiss - Kris Versteeg

Sean Bergenheim - Marcel Goc - Mikael Samuelsson

Mike Santorelli - Shawn Matthias - Tomas Kopecky

Matt Bradley - John Madden - Krys Barch

Defensemen:

Brian Campbell - Erik Gudbranson

Colby Robak - Mike Weaver

Tyson Strachan - Keaton Ellerby

Goalie:

Jose Theodore should get the start tonight.

New York:

Forwards:

Matt Moulson - John Tavares - Kyle Okposo

Michael Grabner - Frans Neilsen - PA Parenteau

Matt Martin - Josh Bailey - Rhett Rakhshani

Tim Wallace - Jay Pandolfo - Nino Niederreiter

Defensemen:

Mark Streit - Steve Staios

Aaron Ness - Andrew MacDonald

Mark Eaton - Milan Jurcina

Goalie:

Evgeni Nabokov is probable.

Florida Panthers Visit New York Islanders: Facts And Figures

Common Thread:

Panthers forward Sean Bergenheim played 246 games over his first five seasons, scoring 40 goals and 40 assists with a minus-19 rating and 195 penalty minutes.

Islanders forward Marty Reasoner played every game last season with the Panthers. He scored 14 goals and 18 assists with a plus-2 rating and 22 penalty minutes.

Team Milestones:

Games: Shawn Matthias plays in game number 180 today, moving into a tie in 45th with Jesse Belanger.

Goals: Jason Garrison is in 50th with 20 goals. Kris Versteeg is tied with Brett McLean in 48th with 21. Shawn Matthias is tied in 46th with Dave Gagner, with 24 goals. Mike Van Ryn sits in 45th, with 25. Mike Santorelli is tied with Gary Roberts in 42nd, with 27 goals, one more will move him into a tie for 41st with Brian McCabe.

Team Leaders:

Kris Versteeg - 21

Tomas Fleischmann - 17

Stephen Weiss, Jason Garrison - 13

Assists:

Brian Campbell - 34

Stephen Weiss - 26

Kris Versteeg - 25

Points:

Kris Versteeg - 46

Tomas Fleischmann - 40

Stephen Weiss - 39

Plus/Minus:

Stephen Weiss - plus-8

Jason Garrison - plus-6

Kris Versteeg - plus-5

Point Share:

Jason Garrison, 6.1

Kris Versteeg, 5.8

Jose Theodore, Brian Campbell, 5.5

Florida Panthers Visit New York Islanders: Game 55 Preview

The Panthers try to win their third game in a row for the first time in 2012, today against the New York Islanders in Nassau Coliseum at 3:00 ET