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Panthers look to keep Lightning at bay

Dec 26, 2008 - 11:27 AM Tampa Bay (8-16-9) at Florida (16-13-4), 7:30 pm EST

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Florida Panthers will try to make life a bit easier for their goaltender this time around.

The club opens a home-and-home series with the Tampa Lightning on Friday at the BankAtlantic Center.

When the teams last got together on November 18, the Panthers managed a 4-3 win in the shootout despite squandering a three-goal lead and allowing 52 shots.

It was the goaltending of Tomas Vokoun that preserved that victory and, the way the Czech netminder has played lately, he'll be ready for anything the Lightning can throw at him.

Vokoun recorded a 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday to earn his second straight shutout and secure his third victory in four starts.

Craig Anderson has been equally effective in net for Florida during December - posting a 4-2-0 record - and the club comes into this contest on a 9-2-3 run, including a 5-1-1 mark over the last seven games.

Rookie center Michael Frolik is starting to heat up for Florida as well, registering 11 points in his last 11 games.

While their cross-state rivals are thriving, Tampa Bay owns the second-worst record in the league, ahead of only the New York Islanders (10-21-3).

The Lightning are 3-5-9 under interim coach Rick Tocchet, who took over for the fired Barry Melrose on November 15.

The clubs meet again Saturday at the St. Pete Times Forum.