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Habs maul Panthers to end three-match loss run
Source: Agencies |
March 27, 2010, Saturday
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BRIAN Gionta scored twice and the Montreal Canadiens snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
Benoit Pouliot and Gionta gave the Habs a 2-0 lead in the first period, and after a scoreless second, Florida winger Radek Dvorak made it 2-1 with 3:36 remaining.
The Panthers pulled their goaltender for an extra skater and were punished by empty-net scores from Tomas Plekanec and Gionta in the final two minutes.
The Panthers (30-32-11) are seven points out of the eighth and final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference, while Montreal (37-30-8) is in sixth spot.
In other National Hockey League games, it was: Lightning 5, Bruins 3; Sharks 3, Stars 0; Rangers 4, Devils 3 (in a shootout); Maple Leafs 2, Thrashers 1 (in overtime); Hurricanes 3, Capitals 2 (in SO); Blue Jackets 8, Blackhawks 3; Wild 4, Flyers 3 (in OT); Islanders 3, Flames 2; Predators 4, Coyotes 3 (in SO); and Blues 3, Kings 1.
In Montreal, the game was marred by an unfortunate incident when Florida winger David Booth had to be taken off the ice in the second after absorbing a big hit.
Booth entered the contest on form after recording four goals in as many games but is no stranger to contact, having missed 45 games because of a concussion he suffered at the end of October.
"We're all concerned and thinking about him and crossing our fingers," Panthers coach Pete DeBoer told reporters. "When he got hit, I was hoping he had the wind knocked out of him, but when he continued to lay on his stomach, you start to get concerned."
The Canadiens avoided losing four straight for the first time since December and were helped by 23 saves from goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who took a shutout deep into the third.
One night earlier, Montreal lost a two-goal lead to fall to the Buffalo Sabres 2-3 in a shootout despite the return of leading scorer Michael Cammalleri and defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron from extended knee injuries.
Gionta delivered his 25th goal of the season in the third to help the team rebound.
"We all knew what happened last night against Buffalo and we didn't want it to happen again," Plekanec said.
Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun lost his fourth straight start despite 27 saves as Florida's playoff aspirations grew a little slimmer.
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