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Vokoun, Panthers shut out Islanders

Oct 7, 2008 - 2:18 AM By Richard Menning PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Goaltender Tomas Vokoun was in midseason form and the Florida Panthers ended their preseason schedule on a positive note with a 6-0 victory over the New York Islanders at the BankAtlantic Center on Monday.

In his second season with the Panthers, Vokoun stopped all 29 shots he faced - including a breakaway save against Richard Park, who came streaking down the left side.

Anthony Stewart, vying for one of the few remaining roster spots still open as the season approaches, opened the scoring for the Panthers when he took a cross-ice feed from Brett McLean and beat goaltender Rick DiPietro to the glove side.

A first-round draft pick in 2003, Stewart had been considered a front runner to make the team's opening day roster. Florida begins its regular season Friday at Carolina.

The Panthers continued to apply pressure in the Islanders' end and doubled their advantage at 7:29 of the second period as Kamil Kreps knocked home a rebound after DiPietro turned away the initial shot from the top of the circle by Ville Peltonen.

Florida extended its lead to 3-0 just over a minute later when Rostislav Olesz drilled a one-timer past DiPietro after defenseman Jay Bouwmeester shot the puck in front of the net on the power play.

The Islanders' night went from bad to worse when defenseman Chris Lee was taken off the ice on a stretcher after a vicious check from behind by Olesz with 8:58 remaining in the third period.

Olesz received a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct.

Bouwmeester, McLean and Nathan Horton scored in the third period for Florida.