Islanders Skate By Panthers

     The Florida Panthers finished a three-game homestand with a 4-3 shootout defeat to the New York Islanders at BB&T Center on Friday night. The Islanders increased their winning streak to five games while the Cats lost for the fourth time in five games.
     Roberto Luongo made 30 saves and moved to fifth all-time in NHL history with 22,213 saves in his career. He passed former Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck for that honor.
     In the first period, Florida(5-4-5) put in the only goal. Vincent Trocheck was at the left icing line and threaded a pass to the slot area where Jimmy Hayes scored his third goal of the season at 12;57. He now holds a three-game goal streak.
     The goal snapped a shutout streak for the Islanders over the last four games. They needed 18:03 in the first period to tie the franchise record of 199:14, but they fell short by 5:06. Jaroslav Halak recorded two straight shutouts for the Isles entering this contest.
     Luongo made his 15th save of the game 3:04 into the second period to climb above the Beezer for fifth all-time in NHL saves. He was drafted and once played for the Islanders back in 1999-2000.
     New York(11-5-0) evened it up 1-1 at 13:04 when John Tavares snapped a wrist shot from the right circle by the left glove of Luongo for his seventh goal in this campaign. Kyle Okposo fed him a cross-ice pass from the low left circle.
     The Islanders kept the momentum and took their first lead at 15:08. Thomas Hickey was in his own left corner of the defensive zone and connected a long lead pass to Ryan Strome just short of the Panthers blue line. He came in alone on a breakaway and scored.
     The Isles extended their lead to 3-1 just 3:57 into the third period. Johnny Boychuk fired a slapshot from the right point that was stopped by Luongo at the top of the crease. The rebound leaked out and Nicolay Kulemin placed a forehand shot into the net.
     The Cats were two seconds into a brief power play when they chopped the margin to 3-2 with 10:02 remaining. Jussi Jokinen crossed into the Islanders zone and dropped the puck to Brian Campbell. He skated to the left-circle dot and nailed a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Halak.
     Florida tied it at 3-3 with 2:35 to go as Panthers rookie defenseman Aaron Ekblad took a slapshot from the right point. It went in and out of Halak's left glove and landed inside the Islanders cage.
     The game went into a shootout and New York converted on their first attempt when Frans Nielsen scored on the backhand by Luongo. Jonatthan Huberdeau matched it as he did a zig-zag move to get the puck by Halak. Okposo clinched the victory on the Islanders second attempt as he rallied in a forehand shot.