Panthers use strong second period to down Isles

Hockey Betting Lines

02/12/2012 - Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Fleischmann, Kris Versteeg and Jack Skille tallied in the second period as Florida powered past the New York Islanders, 4-1, at Nassau Coliseum.

Tyson Strachan also lit the lamp for the Panthers, who have won three in a row. Jose Theodore stopped 26-of-27 shots to post his first win since December 27.

Frans Nielsen provided the lone offense for the Islanders, who finished with two losses on their three-game homestand.

Evgeni Nabokov was charged in the setback with four goals on 15 shots through two periods. Al Montoya finished the game by making four saves.

"You give up two faceoff goals and a power-play goal and you're not going to win too many games," said Islanders head coach Jack Capuano. "We had some chances we didn't bury. I don't think we executed very well at all in the first period. We were chasing them the whole time in the second."

Fleischmann converted a Versteeg dish to put Florida up 2-1 at 4:17 of the second period, then notched the primary assist as Versteeg made it a two-goal margin on a short-side shot during a power play at 11:41.

Skille's return after a seven-game absence due to a shoulder injury was cemented with a long shot to the short side high off a left-circle faceoff win with 1:27 remaining for a 4-1 Panthers edge.

The Isles caught a lucky break with just under 4 1/2 minutes remaining, when Mike Santorelli hit the crossbar on a break down the right wing after Montoya fell down untouched in his crease.

Despite 11 third-period shots, the hosts were unable to dent Theodore.

Nielsen ripped one home from the right wing 3:35 into the contest, but Strachan's blast from the right point sailed by Nabokov for his first career score with 5:03 remaining in the opening period.

Marcel Goc set up the milestone marker by winning a right-circle draw back to the young defenseman.

Game Notes

Florida has won all three meetings from the Islanders this season, with one more matchup scheduled in Sunrise on March 25...The Panthers have also taken eight of 11 against New York since 2009...For Theodore, it was just his third appearance since the turn of the new year...Versteeg recorded his 22nd goal of the season, tying his career high first set in 2008-09 with Chicago.

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