Bruins Lose Fifth Straight, Fall To Panthers 4-1
BOSTON -- Roberto Luongo turned the tables on his nemesis Thursday.
The veteran goaltender, who lived through a nightmare for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup finals and came in 14-15-1 lifetime against Boston in the regular season, made 34 saves and backstopped the Florida Panthers into first place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-1 victory over the sliding Bruins.
On the night the Bruins honored coach Claude Julien during a pregame ceremony for becoming the franchise's all-time leader in coaching wins, Julien's team dropped its fifth straight game. After going 0-4 and scoring five goals on a four-game trip, the Bruins prepped for another four-game trip with another loss and have scored six goals during a losing streak that threatens their playoff chances.
The Panthers, who snapped a 10-game TD garden losing streak, also broke a two-game skid and a tie for first place with the idle Tampa Bay Lightning atop the Atlantic.
Vincent Trocheck and Jussi Jokinen each had a goal and an assist and former Bruin Reilly Smith also beat Tuukka Rask to extend his career-high goal total to 24.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored into an open net with 20.9 seconds left.
Trocheck and Smith scored to wipe out a 1-0 deficit created by Ryan Spooner's second period goal and the Panthers had the better of play the rest of the way.
It was the second straight night the Bruins lost a potential goal because of "no conclusive evidence" that the puck went over the goal line. Wednesday, it was Lee Stempniak who had a goal denied and Thursday it was Patrice Bergeron with the potential tying goal that would have made it 2-2 with 11:57 left.
Dave Goucher & Bob Beers On Controversial Call:
The Panthers got their insurance goal from Jokinen seven seconds after a Bruins too many men penalty expired with 9:04 remaining.
Rask, a potential scratch because of illness, made 32 saves.
Bruins defenseman John-Michael Lyles hobbled off the ice with an apparent left leg injury after falling awkwardly into the boards and went straight to the locker room. He did not return for the third period.
Spooner's goal was his first in 10 games, his second in his last 23 and his first 5-on-5 point in eight games. Frank Vatrano created the chance by circling in the Florida zone with the puck before losing it as Spooner picked it up off the boards and beat a screened Luongo.
The Panthers had been quiet offensively when Jokinen set up Trocheck with a nifty backhand pass. Rask stopped Trocheck but Smith jammed home the rebound at 13:51 of the second for his 23rd goal of the season while providing Jokinen with his 40th assist.
Jiri Hudler gave the Bruins their fourth power play when he ran into Rask, but it was the Panthers who scored as Trocheck delivered only the second shorthanded goal of the season against the Bruins. It was shot Rask probably should have stopped.
Smith, acquired by the Bruins in the Tyler Seguin deal, was traded to Florida along with Marc Savard's contract (he's unable to play after two serious concussions) in exchange for Jimmy Hayes last offseason. His previous career high was 20, with the Bruins two years ago.
NOTES: The Julien ceremony was capped by video tributes that included Bill Belichick, David Ortiz and Doc Rivers. ... Florida D Willie Mitchell, out since Jan. 18 with what was thought to be a leg injury but actually was concussion related, is skating and hopes to return for the playoffs. Doctors have warned him about his future health because of numerous concussions and that he could be finished. "Willie has to decide whether he can play or not," general manager Dale Tallon said. "We want to make sure he doesn't get hurt. We want to make sure there is no permanent damage. But this is up to Willie. We want to do what is best for him." ... The Bruins observed a pregame moment of silence for the victims of the Brussels tragedy.
