Panthers Edge Canucks

     The Florida Panthers came back during the third period to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in a shootout on Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. It was the first time that the Cats have won in Vancouver since their first NHL season in 1993-94. In addition, it was the first time this season that the Panthers have won two straight games.
     Florida(6-12-4) took the action to the home team early in the first period. They scored on their first power play of the game when Alekander Barkov hit the left post on a backhand shot from the right of the crease and Brad Boyes followed with a wrist shot in the crease area by Roberto Luongo for a 1-0 lead at 3:43. It was the eighth goal this season for Boyes who has scored in three of the last four games. The Panther are now 4-2-1 when he scores for them in a game this year.
     Vancouver(11-8-4) tied the game at 3:26 of the second period as several former Panthers were involved on the play. Mike Santorelli took the initial snap shot from the right of the crease which was saved by Tim Thomas. Chris Higgins knocked in the rebound from the low slot area for his seventh goal this season.
     Jannik Hansen broke the tie for the Canucks with 17:45 left in the third period as he converted on a shorthanded goal.
     The Canucks were unable to hold the lead when Shawn Matthias scored his third goal this season on a one-time slapshot from the slot. It was a great no-look feed by Nick Bjudstad from the left-wing wall with 11:26 remaining in the third. Bjudstad compiled his sixth point in the last seven games. The Cats outshot the Canucks 11-4 in the third period. The game went into overtime and a shootout.
      After Santorelli missed the Canucks first attempt, Jonathan Huberdeau went with the forehand on a double fake move. Alex Burrows and Barkov missed on their second attempts. Higgins failed to convert on Vancouver's third attempt to give the Panthers the shootout victory.
     Luongo, another former Florida Panther playing with Vancouver, made 34 saves and moved his record down to 9-6-4. Thomas, who won Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on the same ice surface, stopped 27 shots and is now 5-6-0 this season. The Panthers went 1-for-3 on the power play while the Canucks were held scoreless on two chances.