Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 23, 2001
BOSTON -- The Florida Panthers squandered a lead for the second straight game, but the team with the NHL's fewest wins escaped time with a victory this.
The Panthers beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 Monday night on Viktor Kozlov's goal with 1:39 left, salvaging a game in which they lost a 2-0 lead by allowing two goals in the previous seven minutes.
"We were able to regain our composure after they tied it," coach Duane Sutter said.
The Panthers nearly repeated their collapse of Saturday night, when they lost to Philadelphia 5-3 after leading 2-1 going into the third period.
Goalie Roberto Luongo was outstanding, turning aside 33 shots. He allowed Don Sweeney's second goal of the season with 8:34 left and Brian Rolston's eighth with 2:22 to go.
At least Luongo, who lost his previous two starts by shutouts, had support from the NHL's lowest-scoring team.
The Bruins' late rally was little comfort to coach Mike Keenan, visibly upset by his team's effort in its third consecutive loss.
"They play when they feel like it," he said. "They're a very complacent group from time to time."
FLYERS 3, KINGS 0: Roman Cechmanek stopped 27 shots and Mark Recchi had a goal and an assist for host Philadelphia.
Cechmanek, making his 10th straight start, registered his fourth shutout playing against the NHL's highest-scoring team after allowing 12 goals in his previous three games.
"I feel good after a win," said Cechmanek, adding that coach Bill Barber doesn't ask if he is getting tired.
Cechmanek made 13 saves in the third period, including several on three Kings power plays.
"Your goaltender is always your best penalty killer, and Cechmanek made some outstanding saves," Kings coach Andy Murray said.
Ziggy Palffy's 16-game point-scoring streak for the Kings came to an end.
RANGERS 5, HURRICANES 2: Theo Fleury scored two goals and added an assist as New York snapped a 12-game road winless streak.
The Rangers were 0-10-2 in their past 12 away from Madison Square Garden, their worst slide in 37 seasons. They won with a three-goal second period.
"It was a huge game for us and something we had to win," coach Ron Low said. "We hadn't won on the road in God knows how long."
New York is unbeaten in five games (4-0-1) after a nine-game winless run. Carolina was 8-0-1 in its past nine at home before losing to Los Angeles on Saturday.
BLUES: Defenseman Chris Pronger, the team's second-leading scorer, was scheduled to have surgery today to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and will be out for 4-6 weeks.
Pronger played in the past nine games after tearing cartilage in the knee Jan. 4 against Nashville.
MIGHTY DUCKS: Left wing Paul Kariya hopes to return Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild. Kariya has missed 15 games since breaking a bone in his right foot Dec. 17.
RANGERS: Forward Valeri Kamensky will be out 7-10 days because of a bruised kidney. Kamensky, hurt by a check during a 2-2 tie with the Canadiens on Saturday night, missed a total of five games on two previous occasions this season with a similar injury.
He was placed on injured reserve.