Panthers Snap Losing Streak

Article Written By: Martin Lee

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier #45 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends the net against Jesse Winchester #17 of the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on February 4, 2014 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Florida Panthers just came back from a four game road trip. Trying to snap a 4 game losing streak vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night. Florida played their best game of the season, pulling out the victory 4 to 1.

Florida got the first goal of the game on the power play, from Tom Gilbert his 3rd goal of the season 1:14 into the second period. Jesse Winchester made it a 2-0 Panthers lead, on a deflected shot, his 8th goal of the season, 5:21 into the third period. Toronto made it a one goal game on a snap shot from David Clarkson his 4th goal of the season, 9:31 into the third period. Shawn Matthias made it a 3 to 1 Panthers lead, on wrist shot for his 6th goal of the season, 13:22 into the third period. Florida added an empty netter from Marcel Goc for his 10th goal of the season 17:30 of the 3rd period.

Tim Thomas had a great game allowing 1 goal on 21 shots in a winning effort in net for the Panthers. Jonathan Bernier allowed 4 goals on 47 shots in the loss.

Leafs Coach Randy Carlyle was not happy with the team performance. “The word to describe it is, we didn’t have anything going except one person in the lineup is outstanding for our hockey club and that was our goaltender,” coach Carlyle ranted. “We didn’t seem to have any jump or passion to play the game, and it’s kind of mind-boggling right now.”

Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins warms up before the game against the Vancouver Canucks at the TD Garden on February 4, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks wrote another chapter in their rivalry from the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. Ever since the 2011 cup finals, the TD Garden had been a house of horrors for Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo.

Boston got the first goal of the game off a snap shot from Milan Lucic, his 17th goal of the season, at 5:12 of the first period. Jarome Iginla made it a 2-0 Boston lead while on the power play with his 16th goal of the season, at 7:59 of the second period. Raphael Diaz made it a one goal game for Vancouver on a slap shot at 11:28 into the second period, his 1st goal of the season. Boston made it a 3 to 1 lead on a backhanded goal by Daniel Paille, his 8th goal of the season 17:06 in the third period.

Tuukka Rask allowed 1 goal on 28 shots for a win, in net for Boston. Roberto Luongo allowed 3 goals on 32 shots.

Canucks goalie, Roberto Luongo, played in Boston for the first time since the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. In that series, he allowed 15 goals on 66 shots and was pulled twice in three games at the Garden. He fared better Tuesday, making 29 saves on 32 shots, but took responsibility for the loss.