Panthers Slip By Islanders

     The Florida Panthers played there sixth game of a season-long seven-game homestand and were victorious over the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout at BB&T Center on Saturday night. The Panthers, who won for the third time in five games, remained two points out from the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders lost for the third time in their last four games and next visit Toronto to complete a four-game road trip.
     The Cats had no shots on goal in the first nine minutes of the game. That changed when they scored first with 7:09 left in the first period. The Islanders tried to clear the puck out of their defensive zone. It was stopped by Erik Gudbranson at the right point and he threw a shot on net that slipped by Michael Neuvirth for his fourth goal this season. It was his first goal since the last time both teams met on February 3 which was a 15-game scoreless streak for him.
     In the second period, New York(42-21-4) pulled even at 4:39 on a goal by John Tavares. Nick Bjugstad had his pass in the neutral zone tipped by Anders Lee and went to Tavares at the Panthers blue line. He skated in alone on a breakaway and put a backhand shot by Dan Ellis for his career-best 32nd goal of the season.
     Florida(29-23-14) regained the lead 2-1 at 9:20 of the second. Alex Petrovic sent the puck from the right point to Jussi Jokinen on the end wall. He backhanded it to Bjugstad in the right circle who pivoted to the slot and scored on a backhand shot for his team-high 23rd goal this season. Bjugstad has compiled four points in his last five games. 
     The Isles squared it up at 2-2 while on their second power play with 4:23 to go in the second frame. There was back-and-forth passing between Nick Leddy and Tavares at the top of the zone until Leddy blasted a slapshot through traffic in front.
     The Panthers pulled ahead again at 9:26 of the third period. Jaromir Jagr connected with Aleksander Barkov at center ice and he carried the puck into the Islanders zone. Barkov gave a short pass to Jonathan Huberdeau on the edge of the left circle and he scored on a spin around snap shot that went by the right leg of Neuvirth.
     The Islanders responded and tied it 3-3 with 7:12 left in the third. Following a scramble for the puck on the left wing, Tavares backhanded a pass to Josh Bailey at the left-circle dot and he riffled in a one-time slapshot.
     The game was decided in a shootout as Jonathan Huberdeau scored in the first round for the Panthers as he used a zig-zag move and put in a delayed forehand shot.