Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2601435" data-attributes="member: 2012">Weiss paces Panthers to victoryAssociated Press9/22/2005 9:36:09 PMATLANTA (AP) - Stephen Weiss scored two goals, Roberto Luongo made 31 saves in just over 32 minutes and the Florida Panthers defeated the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 in a pre-season game Thursday night.The Thrashers, playing at home for the first time since the lockout, dropped to 0-4 in the pre-season despite outshooting the Panthers by a staggering 54-19.The announced crowd of 10,218 - the actual turnout appeared closer to 7,000 - saw a penalty filled game in the keeping with the league's mandate to cut down on obstruction and create more scoring chances.All but one goal was scored on the power play.''There's going to be a lot of 5-on-4s and 5-on-3s because obviously the referees want to make a statement,'' Atlanta coach Bob Hartley said. ''It makes for some interesting hockey.''Peter Bondra scored twice for the Thrashers, his second goal coming with just 1:52 remaining. But Jean-Marc Pelletier made two big saves on Marc Savard in the third period - one on a breakaway, the other halting a 2-on-1 break.The Thrashers spent more than 12 minutes on the power play in the first period, outshooting Florida 24-6. But, with Luongo making several big saves, Atlanta came away with just a 1-0 lead on Bobby Holik's goal.Florida took control in the second period, scoring three straight power-play goals in a span of about 10 minutes. Juraj Kolnik scored from the top of the circle, then Weiss beat Mike Dunham twice with good work in front of the Atlanta net.Weiss deflected in Mike Van Ryn's shot from just inside the blue line, then flipped a rebound past Dunham.''I'm just trying to play my game,'' Weiss said. ''The offensive zone is a little more open and you have room to make plays.''Luongo faced 32 shots before turning over the net to Pelletier with 7:55 left in the second period. The backup goalie stopped 20 of 22 shots.''The game was a good workout,'' Luongo said. ''The last half of the first period, they were on the power play the whole 10 minutes. It was tough, but you have to battle through it.''Bondra pulled Atlanta to 3-2, ripping a wrist shot past Pelletier for the lone even-strength goal of the night. But Thrashers defenceman Niclas Havelid was called for hooking with just seconds remaining in the period, and Florida took advantage with Anthony Stewart's power-play goal 53 seconds into the third.Van Ryn assisted on three of Florida's goals.Atlanta squandered a chance to get back in the game when three Florida penalties in the space of less than two minutes gave the Thrashers an extended two-man advantage.The Thrashers had another two-man edge late in the game, but Holik ruined it with a tripping penalty.</blockquote>

Verification