Islanders Pounce On Panthers

     The Florida Panthers played there second-to-last game ever at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and were defeated by the New York Islanders 4-2 on Tuesday night. The Panthers were swept on their short two-game road trip as they fell on Monday night to the New Jersey Devils.
     It was the final road game this season for the Cats who have lost seven of their last eight games. They with finish the schedule with a five-game homestand beginning on Friday against the Calgary Flames.
     In the first period, Florida(27-42-8) scored on unassisted shorthanded goal just 1:50 into the game. Quinton Howden stole the puck at center ice, skated down the middle of the ice and ripped a shot over the blocker of Evgeni Nabakov for a 1-0 advantage. It was the fifth shorthanded goal by the Panthers this season all of which occurred on the road.
     The game was evened quickly by New York(30-35-10) at 2:35 on a power-play goal. Travis Hamonic took a slapshot from far range for just his third goal this year.
     The second period belonged to the Islanders as they tallied two goals. Ryan Strome dug the puck out of the right corner to Colin McDonald in the crease area for a close-range shot. Josh Bailey followed the play as he slapped it in from the top of the crease at 11:18.
     The Isles were able to pick up a two-goal cushion with 2:24 left in the period. McDonald placed a shot on net from the low right circle and Matt Martin came through the slot to put a wrist shot by Scott Clemmensen.
     The Islanders scored their fourth unanswered goal at 4:21 of the third period. Mike Halmo skated down the left side on a two-on-one and shot the puck from the left circle which was a blocker save by Clemmensen. Halmo would then bat in the rebound on the fly for his first career NHL goal.
     The Panthers came up with one final goal on the power play with 5.9 seconds remaining in the third. It was a mad scrabble for the puck until Brandon Pirri scored on a wrist shot from the right circle for his 11th goal this season.