Panthers Get By Islanders

     The Florida Panthers finished a five-game homestand with a 3-2 shootout victory over the New York Islanders at BB&T Center on Friday night. It completed a stretch where the Panthers played seven of eight games at home and did not leave the State of Florida for almost three weeks.
     Brandon Pirri put the Panthers on the scoreboard at 8:38 of the first period. He connected a give-and-go pass with Jaromir Jagr in the neutral zone, carried the puck to the right point and blasted a slapshot from top right circle for his fourth goal of the season. Jagr extended his point streak to five games.
     In the second period, Florida(8-9-4) increased their margin to 2-0 at 4:42. Jussi Jokinen was in the slot area and beat Jaroslav Halak from close range for his sixth tally this year. Vincent Trocheck was credited with an assist on the play.
     The third period was taken over by the Islanders as they scored twice in the first ten minutes of the frame. Ryan Strome put in a wrist shot from the low crease following a feed by Mikhail Grabovski from the right corner. New York(11-8-3) tied the contest when Josh Bailey scored from the top of the crease.
     It was a unusual circumstance in the shootout when both squads scored on their first four attempts. Aleksander Barkov converted on the Panthers fifth attempt to get the win.