Panthers Dump Avalanche

     The Florida Panthers returned home following a three-game road trip and defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-l at BB&T Center on Tuesday night. Roberto Luongo picked up his 4O4th career victory in goal to pass Grant Fuhr for ninth in NHL history. The Panthers improved to 3-l-O at home this season. This was the first game of a three-game road swing by Colorado[2-5-l] through the Southeast.
     Florida[5-3-l} waited until their first power play of the contest to take the lead with l9.7 seconds left in the first period. Brian Campbell rifled a cross-ice pass through the neutral zone to Vincent Trocheck on the right side. He skated to the top of the right circle and scored on a slapshot.
     In the third period, the Panthers converted on their second power play of the game at 2:58. Campbell was at the top of zone and shifted the puck to Dmitry Kulikov in the right circle. He connected a pass through the slot area where Trocheck powered home a shot from the left-circle dot for his second goal of the game and fourth goal of the season.
     The Cats made it 3-for-3 on the power play as they expanded to a three-goal cushion at 9:49. Trocheck was on his knees while at the right-wing wall and poked the puck to Jussi Jokinen in the right circle. He quickly relayed a pass across to Reilly Smith in the left circle and he snapped a shot into a half-empty net for his fourth goal on the year. Campbell added a shorthanded goal for his first tally of the season at l4:O2.
     Luongo was prevented from his 69th career shutout when the Avalanche scored with 57 seconds left in the game. Nikita Zadarov took a shot from long range which Luongo saved, however Gabriel Landeskog pounced on the rebound from the crease for his team-high fifth goal this season.