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Sunday, Apr. 9 12:00pm ET
Panthers stagger into playoffs | |||||
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BOX SCORE
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- The Florida Panthers hope their last two games are not an indication of things to come. After losing in overtime to New Jersey on Saturday, the Panthers ended the regular season with a 3-2 loss on Sunday to the New York Islanders. "I didn't like the way we played today, not at all," Panthers coach Terry Murray said. "The last dozen games, we got down to work and straightened some things out. But today, each one of the lines was looking to do something out of the ordinary." Pavel Bure scored the first Florida goal, finishing with 58 as the Panthers were denied a 100-point season (43-33-6-6). He originally was credited with the second goal, too, but an official scoring change gave it to Mike Sillinger. Islanders leading scorer Mariusz Czerkawski acconted for all three Islanders goals and finished with 35 for the season. It was the third hat trick of Czerkawski's career, and the only one registered by a member of the Islanders this season. "I'm very pleased for him," Islanders coach Butch Goring said. "I challenged him at the start of the season to be the offensive guy and he did that. I also wanted him to be more responsible defensively and to take the body, and he worked hard all year at doing that. And what this proves is that you can play defensively and still score 35 goals." Bure opened the scoring at 8:18 of the second period when he beat goalie Roberto Luongo with a one-timer off a perfect backhand, cross-ice pass from Oleg Kvasha. Czerkawski tied the game at 12:28 on the power play when his centering pass from the right corner deflected off defenseman Robert Svehla's skate and past goalie Trevor Kidd. Czerkawski put New York in front for good 1:40 later on another power play goal. His right point slap shot hit a Panther stick and got over Kidd's shoulder. The hat trick goal at 7:13 of the final period was the game-winner. Linemate Brad Isbister gloved down an attempted clear, and then found Czerkawski alone in the right circle. His high wrist shot beat Kidd to the far side. "I was happy for Chow (Czerkawski)," Isbister said. "I think I jumped higher than him. "He deserves it. He carried our team offensively for most of the year." The celebration was short-lived, as Sillinger struck at 12:55 on a Panthers' power play. He stuffed the puck past Luongo from the right post. "He's a tremendous talent," Luongo said of Bure. "He and Jaromir Jagr are the two best players in the game right now." The Islanders held Florida off the rest of the way, including killing a penalty in the final two minutes. Bure had a chance to tie the game, but the puck bounced over his stick. The missed chance for 60 goals didn't bother Bure afterward. "After having the (knee) surgery, I'm amazed I wound up with 59 goals," said Bure, who was not aware that the second goal was changed to Sillinger's. "Every season is different. This year, things are going well. Next year, who knows? I may wind up with 20 goals." The Panthers will face the Devils in the first round of the playoffs, and Murray said that the biggest thing that his team has to fear is New Jersey's experience. "Even though they may not have played that well lately, experience is something that you can capture immediately," Murray said. Bure is not thrilled about playing such a defensively-oriented team as the Devils. "It's not really fun when the score is 2-1, but that's New Jersey playing their type of game," Bure said. "It's the playoffs though, and you have to accept it and be patient." | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Florida Clubhouse NY Islanders Clubhouse Flyers clinch Eastern title, home ice until finals
Sabres get the point, slip into NHL playoffs
RECAPS Buffalo 1 Washington 1
NY Islanders 3
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