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Zherdev propels Rangers past Panthers

Nov 29, 2008 - 4:48 AM By Rick Menning PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers had to survive a shootout to win their first game at BankAtlantic Center in more than two years.

Nikolai Zherdev scored in both regulation and the second round of the shootout to lift the Rangers to a 4-3 triumph over the Florida Panthers on Friday.

Zherdev and Dan Fritsche scored 46 seconds apart in the first period and Aaron Voros also tallied for New York, which improved to 6-1 in the bonus format this season.

"We put ourselves in a bit of a bind, but to a man we were committed to winning the hockey game," New York coach Tom Renney said. "It wasn't pretty, but it's a couple of points."

Defenseman Michal Rozsival notched two assists and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 38 saves for the Rangers, who earned their first win in Sunrise since November 8, 2006.

"We kept our cool and didn't get rattled," Lundqvist said. "I was happy with the way we responded to the adversity there at the end (of regulation)."

Former Ranger Radek Dvorak and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester had a goal and an assist apiece and David Booth also tallied for Florida, which fell to 1-2-2 in its last five games.

"That's about as hard as we can play," Florida coach Peter DeBoer said. "Our guys, through guts and will, found a way to compete out there."

Booth scored his fourth goal in as many games with 93 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 3-3. It is Booth's team-leading 12th goal.

The Rangers wasted no time getting to starting goaltender Craig Anderson with two quick goals just 2:39 into the contest.

After Zherdev backhanded the puck past Anderson from a sharp angle on the right side to opened the scoring at 1:53, Fritsche scored his first goal of the season shortly thereafter with a wrist shot from the high slot.

"I thought we were totally in control, but that's the way this league is sometimes," Renney said. "(The Panthers) kept coming at us and they capitalized on our mistakes."

The Panthers responded well to the early onslaught, cutting the deficit in half when Ville Peltonen's pass from behind the net deflected off Dvorak's skate and trickled past Lundqvist nearly 10 minutes later.

"There were a few weird bounces tonight, but that's a hard-working team over in that locker room and they create their opportunities," Lundqvist said.

Anderson, who in relief of Tomas Vokoun made 24 saves in two periods against New Jersey on Wednesday, was tested again with a 17-shot barrage in the second period.

"It's tough to take," Anderson said. "We battled and battled and got the point, but again you would like to come away with two."

Florida stayed aggressive and it paid off late in that period following some untimely penalties by the Rangers.

Just five seconds after defenseman Paul Mara was sent off the ice for slashing with 68 seconds remaining in the session, the second penalty by New York in just over two minutes, Bouwmeester's slap shot from the point found its way over Lundqvist's shoulder for the equalizer.

The Rangers took advantage of some sloppy puck-handling by the Panthers to regain the lead when Voros stole the puck in the Florida zone and one-timed a shot past Anderson.

"We had it going our way and had them a little bit on their heels, but to their credit they didn't quit," Voros said.

Florida had a golden opportunity to pull even again with Marc Staal and Blair Betts in the box, leaving the Panthers with nearly two minutes of a 5-on-3 advantage. But Lundqvist was up to the challenge and maintained New York's lead.

"That was key right there," Booth said. "We had a lot of good looks. That could have made a huge difference."