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Hunter leads Islanders against Panthers

Oct 18, 2008 - 10:08 AM NY Islanders (2-2-0) at Florida (1-2-0) 7:00 p.m. EDT

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- Trent Hunter made sure the New York Islanders bounced back from a dismal setback. On Saturday, Hunter and the Islanders go for back-to-back wins when they visit the Florida Panthers.

The 28-year-old Hunter scored two goals on Thursday, including the game-winner in overtime as New York posted a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The triumph came just three days after the Islanders endured an embarrassing 7-1 setback at home to the Buffalo Sabres.

Hunter leads New York with four goals this season and has tallied in each of his last three games. The native of Red Deer, Alberta is off to a red-hot start after scoring just 12 goals in 82 contests last campaign.

The Panthers hope to rebound from an ugly loss of their own, a 6-2 rout at the hands of the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

Despite the absence of Minnesota star right wings Marian Gaborik and Owen Nolan and center Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Florida fell behind by two goals early but battled back to make it 3-2. However, the Panthers allowed the Wild to score the final three goals of the game en route to victory.

Along with Hunter, veteran Doug Weight has a team-high four points for the Islanders. David Booth is tops on the Panthers with three tallies and four points.