Panthers Hang On To Defeat Canadians

FLORIDA- The Montreal Canadians came limping into town hoping to snap their 4 game losing streak against a tired Panther team that was in Pheneox last night and back home tonight to host the Canadians.

The Canadians came out strong but everytime they would seem to make progress the Cats came back. Then Bondra and Loungo stole the show to lead the Panthers to a very important 4-2 victory.

The Canadians Sergei Samsonov opened the scoring at 4:48. Just :33 seconds later defenceman Kenny Jonsson tied it up notching his 4th of the season.

The Canadians re gained the lead on Samuel Pahlsson 3rd of the year at 5:48. Once again but not as quick the Cats tied it up. Ivan Novoseltsev and Stephen Weiss broke away for a 2 on 1. On the give and go Novo passed to Weiss who immediatly passed it back for Ivan to tap the puck into the open net at 7:29.

Although the Canadians out shot the Panthers 11 - 8 these two conference rivals went into the dressing room after 20 minutes notched at 2.

Then the Loungo and Bondra show began.

Petr Bondra set up Kim Johnsson at 6:40 of the second for his 5th of the year and the eventual game winner.

Loungo stopped 21 of the 30 stops in the last 2 periods stoning the Canadians and was named the games second star.

Then Bondra (games first star) scored the assurance goal at 15:25 of the third giving the Panthers the 4-2 victory.

"This was a very important win for us tonight." Bondra told the press "Whenever you play a conference rival especially a team like the Canadians who are right on our heels in the standings it is important to find a way to win and we did that tonight. They played a hell of a game. Roberto played fantastic tonight and gave us the chance to win."

Coach Keenen had this to say about the game. "We were a little flat tonight. That was to be expected and the reason Roberto got the night off last night. We needed at least one fresh player out there and tonight that was the difference in this game. Now we need to find a way to do it again tomorrow night in Philly."

As Coach Keenen said the Panthers are on their way back to the airport to go to Philadelphia to play the Flyers tomorrow night and put their 3 game winning streak on the line.