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PANTHERS GET OUT TO EARLY LEAD AND HOLD ON AT HOME TO DUCKS The Anaheim Ducks may look like a rebuilding team. However, they are pushing hard for the 8th seed and a lot of that is because of the great goaltending of youngster Byron Dafoe. The Panthers knew they would have to push hard, and they did early. Dollas scored his 1st of the year just over a minute into the game. Duchesne then scored his 14th while short handed to stretch the lead to 2-0. The Ducks would respond with a goal, but less than one minute later, Hawerchuk scored his 15th to get the 2 goal lead back. The second period was more the same early as Numminen scored his 4th and it was quickly 4-1 for the Panthers and it looked like they would put it in cruise control. That was a bad idea against this young Ducks team, though, as Dafoe would put up a brick wall from that point in the game. Then, the team started pushing, and this Ducks team has taken out New Jersey, Philadelphia, Winnipeg, and Minnesota three times, so they know how to push back. They would add 2 more to get the score to 4-3 heading into the 3rd. From there the defenses took over. Dafoe shut the door, but so did Belfour. The teams both only allowed 5 shots each in the 3rd and Florida was able to hold onto the 4-3 victory. Ed Belfour got the win moving his record to 16-12-2. Special teams was a +1. The PP went 0-5 and the PK was perfect on 2 tries, but also added a short handed goal. 1st Star - Gaetan Duchesne - 1 goal, 3 points, +1, 3 shots , 9 TOI 2nd Star - Dave Morrison - 1 goal, +2, 2 shots, 3 hits 3rd Star - Viktor Kozlov - 1 goal, 4 shots HOUSTON The Aeros took care of San Diego tonight as well with a 11-2 victory. Corey Hirsch got the win. The offense was provided by Byers (9)and Kontos (14) with a pair, and White (28), Atcheynum (11), Kaza (10), Ledyard (4), Gillis (11), Millen (11), Gilbert (13) with singles. Both teams hooked up after the game. Brian Savage got on the plane back with San Diego while Rhett Warrener stayed back in Houston.
Bubba Smith Sr. |