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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- While the Islanders' winning streak grew,
so did the Panthers' mounting frustrations.
Brad Isbister and Roman Hamrlik scored on power plays to back
Wade Flaherty's first shutout of the season as the Islanders beat
Florida 3-0 Wednesday for their fourth straight victory. The
flu-ridden Panthers, who have one win in 11 games, began a
five-game homestand with the disappointed crowd chanting "Fire
Murray."
|  | | The Islanders shut down Olli Jokinen and the Florida Panthers on the power play. |
"You always worry about your job in this business," Panthers
coach Terry Murray said. "You've got to win games. ... Everybody
in that room is very concerned about it, and certainly I am."
Hamrlik also assisted on Mats Lindgren's shorthanded goal at
8:57 of the third period as New York stretched its unbeaten streak
to 5-0-1. That's the Islanders' longest run since going 4-0-2 from
Dec. 31-Jan. 15 of the 1995-96 season.
"I'm just trying to hit the net," said Hamrlik, who leads all
NHL defensemen with six goals. "Every coach I ever had told me to
hit the net and it doesn't matter if you shoot it 100 mph or 50."
Flaherty, who recorded his fifth career shutout, outdueled
former Islanders goaltender Roberto Luongo, recording 23 saves to
improve his record to 3-0.
"This was a team shutout, obviously," said Flaherty. "It was
an awesome display of simple defensive hockey and unbelievable
penalty killing."
Three minutes after the Panthers were held without a shot during
a 55-second, two-man advantage, Isbister skated between Pavel Bure
and Paul Laus before unleashing a wrist shot from the high slot
past Luongo at 18:22 for a 1-0 lead. Garry Galley assisted.
Isbister has five goals in six games. Many of the Islanders were
fired up to beat Luongo, who has made it clear that he was still
angry at the Islanders for trading him last summer.
"Obviously, it's nice to beat a guy who's been saying some
things in the press," Isbister said. "It got us a little riled
up. Anytime you play a former teammate you want to win pretty badly
and not give him the satisfaction of winning."
Luongo, who had 28 saves and has been playing well this season
despite his 0-4-2 record, was disappointed.
"I don't care who is playing on the other side, it's
disappointing not to have a win yet on the season," Luongo said.
Flaherty, who stopped Pavel Bure's shots twice in the first
period, was grateful for the prolific goal-scorer's flu-weakened
condition.
"Anytime you come in here and the best player in the league has
the flu, you'll take it," Flaherty said.
The Islanders had scored on just four of 45 power-play
opportunities before getting the two extra-man goals on seven
chances Wednesday.
"It was a long year last year where we talked a lot about
losses," Islanders coach Butch Goring said of the winning streak.
"I'm enjoying this and so are the guys. They're playing very well.
They're a dangerous bunch, playing with a lot of confidence right
now."
With Joey Tetarenko off for slashing, Hamrlik scored his sixth
goal of the season 17 seconds into the third period on a slap shot
from the top of the right faceoff circle that deflected off the
post, beating Luongo on the glove side.
Skating shorthanded, Lindgren came from behind the Panthers'
goal to stuff in his first goal of the season. It was the
Islanders' fourth shorthanded goal of the season.
Goring, who was under fire last season, wasn't ready to offer
Murray any advice.
"Did anybody feel sorry for me last year?" Goring asked.
Game notes
RW Scott Mellanby has a herniated disc in his mid-back area
and missed his second straight game. He said that he could be out
for "days, maybe weeks," depending on results of tests he took
Thursday. Mellanby, 34, a member of the Panthers in their debut
season, has 274 career goals, 154 with Florida. ... D Mike Wilson
had shoulder surgery Tuesday and will be out for at least 14 weeks.
... Murray canceled practice Thursday, explaining that at least 10
Panthers have the flu. ... The Panthers, who began a five-game
homestand Wednesday, were 0-for-7 in power-play chances. ...
Flaherty's last shutout came on April 16, 1998. ... The Islanders'
4-3-2 mark in October marks their best start since 1992-93, when
they went 6-5-1.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Islanders Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Rangers 6
Tampa Bay 1
NY Islanders 3
Florida 0
Detroit 4
Montreal 2
Philadelphia 1
New Jersey 1
Dallas 4
Columbus 0
Edmonton 3
Calgary 2
Vancouver 4
Colorado 3
Phoenix 1
Anaheim 1
San Jose 3
Pittsburgh 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Roman Hamrlik slaps the shot past Roberto Luongo.
avi: 670 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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