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