Loungo Gets Shutout In Home Opener

FLORIDA - The Florida Panthers hosted the Boston Bruins for their season home opener and were dominate.

The Cats out shot the Bruins 34-16 and held the Bruins to only 3 shots in the second period.

Owen Nolan was named the games first star. Owen is coming off a 40 goal season and by the looks of things he hasn't missed a beat.

Nolan started thing off by assisting on Yanick Lehouxs' first goal of the season at 11:18 for a 1-0 lead.

Ivan Novoseltsev scored his first of the season at 16:38 from newcomers Alexander Daigle and Jay Pandolfo and the Panthers took a 2-0 lead into the locker room after 20 minutes.

Owen Nolan took over the rest of the way and made the Bruins pay for their undisciplined play by scoring a power play goal at 6:59 of the second period from Bondra and Weiss and gave the Cats a 3-0 lead after 2 periods of play.

Nolan scored his second power play goal of the game on an unassisted effort at 15:41 to give the Panthers a 4-0 win.

Loungo stopped all 16 shots he faced for the win and his first shut out in almost 2 years. Loungo didn't get a single shut out last year and was happy to get one in his first game this year.

"This was a huge boost for our team." Loungo (pictured) told reporters at the post game press conference. "We wanted to start the season strong and we did. Nolan looked as if he was on a mission tonight and the team played a very disciplined game and made it easy for me. I like to be more busy then I was tonight to feel like I am in the game but I can live with it."