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Panthers try to get power play on track against visiting B's

Nov 24, 2010 - 6:42 PM (Sports Network) - The Panthers had been keeping their heads above water despite a horrid power play, but the lack of production by the unit is starting to catch up with the club.

Florida ranks dead last in the NHL with just five goals on the man advantage and tonight faces the league's second-best penalty killing team in the Boston Bruins, who hope to avoid a third straight loss in this meeting at BankAtlantic Center.

Florida is converting at just 7.5 percent on the power play this year (5- for-67), ranking 30 out of 30 teams, and hasn't scored a goal in its last 25 chances on the man advantage over its last six games. The Panthers went 0- for-5 on the power play in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Penguins.

Cory Stillman and Bryan McCabe scored to help Florida tie the game after an early two-goal deficit, but Tomas Vokoun was beaten three times on 26 shots faced. Despite their power-play issues, the Panthers had won four of six before Monday's loss and had a three-game home winning streak snapped in the opener of a three-game residency.

"It was a tough start to the game and we were down 2-0 early," said Vokoun. "Sometimes people make good plays, but you still want to make the saves when you have to. It's not gonna be the case every night and tonight was one of those nights."

Already without Steve Reinprecht (groin) and Rostislav Olesz (broken finger) due to injury, the Panthers lost Jason Garrison and Bryan Allen to lower-body injuries versus Pittsburgh and the duo is questionable for tonight.

The Panthers went 0-for-5 on the power play in last Thursday's 4-0 loss in Boston. Vokoun gave up four goals on 40 shots in the loss and though he has two shutouts in his last four versus the Bruins, he is just 5-7-2 with a tie and 2.60 goals-against average lifetime when facing them.

Boston has won three of four and six of its last nine over Florida and tonight goes for its third straight and sixth victory in its last seven trips to Sunrise.

The Bruins, who have allowed just seven goals on 72 short-handed situations (90.3 percent), stretched their winning streak to three games with the triumph over the Panthers, but has lost two straight since.

Tuukka Rask, who made 41 saves in the shutout over the Panthers, gave up three second-period goals and ended with 33 saves in Monday's 3-1 loss in Tampa. Michael Ryder had the lone goal in the third period for Boston.

"We weren't making very good decisions, turning the puck over, not getting pucks in deep," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien. "We have to start playing a little more desperate from the get-go."

Boston lost for just the second time in nine road games (7-2-0) and will likely turn to Tim Thomas in net tonight. Thomas is 10-1-1 and is among the league leaders this season with a 1.49 GAA and .954 save percentage.

Though he is just 4-6-2 with a 3.36 GAA lifetime against the Panthers, he is 3-1-1 over his last five in this series with a 1.18 GAA.