Bruins roll Luongo, Panthers
By wire services
Published October 14, 2005
SUNRISE - The Bruins finally solved Roberto Luongo. And they did it without All-Star center Joe Thornton.
Boston, held to three goals in four games by Luongo in 2003-04, matched that total in just over a period in knocking out Luongo on the way to a 5-2 win Thursday night.
"He's one of the best, no question," said Bruins forward Glen Murray, who had a goal and two assists. "To force him out is pretty good. Maybe he had an off night."
Patrice Bergeron replaced Thornton, who stayed in Boston for treatment on his ailing back, between Murray and Sergei Samsonov on Boston's top line. Bergeron responded with a goal and an assist.
"I didn't want to replace Joe because you can't replace him," Bergeron said. "They just gave me confidence. I tried not to think too much on the ice. I'm happy playing with those guys."
Luongo, the league's defensive player of the week, was pulled after Bergeron's goal made it 3-0 at 5:26 of the second period.
Murray and Tom Fitzgerald scored in the first period against Luongo.
"I'd like to have the first one back," said Luongo, who had allowed only three goals in his first four games. "The last two goals were kind of freaky goals, but what are you going to do? There's nothing to be ashamed about for me."
Brad Isbister also scored for the Bruins, who have won three straight since losing their first two.
ISLANDERS 5, CAPITALS 3: Jason Blake and Petteri Nokelainen each had a goal and an assist and Oleg Kvasha added three assists to lead visiting New York. Alexei Yashin, Trent Hunter and Mark Parrish also had goals for the Isles, who scored on their first two shots of the game. The Islanders had been 1-12-2 in their past 15 games at the MCI Center. Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro left 11:09 into the second period after sustaining a mild concussion in a headlong dive to stop a drive down the slot. He is listed as day to day.
RANGERS 4, DEVILS 1: Martin Rucinsky and Ville Nieminen scored 17 seconds apart in the first period and rookie goalie Henrik Lundqvist made 20 saves for his first NHL victory. Blair Betts and Jaromir Jagr also scored for host New York, which ended a three-game losing skid against its local rivals.
STARS 3, FLAMES 2 (OT): Philippe Boucher scored with 55 seconds left in overtime for Dallas to spoil Calgary's home opener. It was the third straight loss for Flames, who raised the 2003-04 Western Conference banner before the game in front of a sellout crowd. Mike Modano had three assists for Dallas, which also got goals from Jere Lehtinen and Martin Skoula. Calgary's Chuck Kobasew scored with 5:32 left in regulation to send the game into OT.
BRUINS: All-Star defenseman Nick Boynton ended his monthlong holdout, signing a one-year deal.
MINOR THREAT: A union representing 1,300 minor-league players threatened to file an antitrust lawsuit against the NHL over a provision in the league's new collective-bargaining agreement, the Toronto Sun reported. The Professional Hockey Players' Association, whose members play in the AHL and ECHL, said the provision restricts the salaries of players in the minors, the newspaper said.