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Panthers' offensive outburst helps secure first win

Oct 12, 2007 - 3:17 AM SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Florida Panthers broke out of their offensive rut against a struggling Martin Brodeur.

Rostislav Olesz, captain Olli Jokinen and Nathan Horton all beat Brodeur as the Florida Panthers posted their first win of the season, a 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

Jozef Stumpel and defenseman Cory Murphy each had a pair of assists for Florida, which had scored just four goals in its first three games. The Panthers avoided the first 0-4-0 start in their 15-year history.

"We played well as a team," Florida coach Jacques Martin said. "We did a lot of things better, and I think it showed on the scoreboard."

Tomas Vokoun stopped 29 shots to record his first shutout of the season and 22nd career. The 10-year veteran stopped 10 shots in the first period, eight in the second and 11 in the third.

Jokinen said the team took Vokoun's simple advice before the game to heart.

"He said, 'There's still (79) games to go,'" Jokinen said. "He's probably the only guy who didn't panic. ... Vokoun's our guy and he showed it tonight. He was sharp all night."

Martin believed his goalie was the difference in the game.

"This guy has had success in the past," Martin said. "He's a proud individual. He's hard on himself. He didn't think he played well in his first two games."

While Vokoun was turning away all comers, Brodeur's early-season troubles continued. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has allowed eight goals in three games - all losses - this season after helping the defending Atlantic Division champions post a 2.35 goals-against average in 2006-07.

"There's always a first for everything," Brodeur said. "It's all about the way I play and the way I feel out there. Everything will fall into place. I can't score goals. I can't really dictate too much. All I can do is give these guys a chance to win every night.

"That's how I've gone about it during my career and it won't change because we're behind the eight ball here on the road."

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first period as Olesz took a pass from Radek Dvorak in the right faceoff circle and fired a wrist shot past Brodeur into the left corner of the net with 5:12 remaining.

The goal was Olesz's first of the season, and it marked the first time Florida - which entered the game tied with the Phoenix Coyotes and Atlanta Thrashers for last in scoring - tallied first in a game.

The Panthers' second goal came just five seconds into a two-man advantage in the second period. Florida won the faceoff and Jokinen received a pass from Murphy just above the right circle before blasting a slap shot that beat Brodeur to the glove side for a 2-0 lead with 6:54 left in the session.

It was the Jokinen's first goal of the season.

Horton capped the scoring in the second as the Panthers capitalized on another power-play opportunity. The four-year veteran sent the puck over Brodeur's right shoulder with 33 seconds left for his second of the campaign.

"I just tried to get it to the net," Horton said. "It was rolling, I'm not even sure where it went. I just know it trickled in. I didn't even see it."

The goal came just 20 seconds after a video review of a shot by Jokinen that glanced off the right goalpost but never crossed the goal line.

Florida went 2-for-6 on the power play, while New Jersey was 0-for-5 with the man advantage.

"(Vokoun) played really well," New Jersey's Brian Gionta said. "It's no secret. He made a lot of big stops. That's no excuse. We're here to score goals, and we've got to score goals."

Vokoun said the importance of winning against the Devils can't be underestimated.

"It's a great win," Vokoun said. "I think it's a confidence booster for this team, and that's what we needed. If you don't have confidence as a player, it's tough, I don't care who you are."

Brodeur stopped 28 shots for the Devils, who have lost two straight.

"This losing is brutal," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "You've just got to deal with it. Some guys are going through a little bit of adversity right now. They can't hang their heads, they just have to hang with it."