Horton leads Panthers past Lightning in shootout

Hockey Betting Lines

11/18/2008 - Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nathan Horton was credited with the game-winning tally in the shootout and the Florida Panthers edged instate rival Tampa Bay, 4-3, at St. Pete Times Forum.

Bryan McCabe scored twice and David Booth also tallied in regulation for the Panthers, who have won three of their last four games overall. Tomas Vokoun allowed three goals on 52 shots in the win. Vokoun made 15 saves in the first period and 20 more in the second.

Radim Vrbata, Steve Eminger and Evgeny Artyukhin scored for the Lightning, who have lost in a shootout in both of their first two games under interim head coach Rick Tocchet. Barry Melrose, a former coach turned hockey television personality for over a decade, returned to the bench this season but was fired on Friday after a 5-7-4 start.

Mike Smith finished with 33 saves for Tampa Bay, which fell to 2-4-3 in November.

Tampa Bay scored twice in the third period to tie the score at 3-3. After a scoreless overtime, the teams began the shootout. The first three shooters missed, but Horton's wrist shot beat Smith before Vokoun made a save on a wrist shot by Marty St. Louis and the Panthers skated off with the win.

Florida scored twice in the first period for a 2-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.

First, at the 7:50 mark, McCabe registered his second goal of the season. Radek Dvorak's was saved by Smith, but the rebound was corralled by Gregory Campbell, who sent the puck to the blue line. From the centerpoint, McCabe released a blazing shot that flew into the back of the cage.

Inside the final minute of the stanza, the visitors moved ahead 2-0 on a power-play tally that was credited to Booth. With Paul Ranger in the penalty box for tripping, the Panthers worked the puck around the perimeter until Richard Zednik fired a shot from the right circle. Smith made a partial save, but the puck trickled under him. Booth appeared to make slight contact with the puck as he whacked at it from the crease and the disc crossed the goal line with 17 seconds to go.

McCabe's second goal of the game -- a power-play marker 7:48 into the second period -- gave Florida a three-goal cushion.

With 5:18 to play before the second intermission, the Lightning cut their deficit to 3-1. Steve Eminger's blast from the right side was stopped, but Vokoun allowed a long rebound to the opposite side and Vrbata was in the right place at the right time for an easy rebound goal into the open net past the sprawling Vokoun.

Tampa Bay climbed back into the game with two third-period goals.

Artyukhin's goal before four minutes elapsed in the third period drew the Lightning within one. He was stationed at the right post and one-timed home a cross-crease pass from Vinny Lecavalier.

In the latter stages of the third, the hosts knotted the contest. After a faceoff in inside the left circle, the puck was controlled by Artyukhin, who then fed the disc back to Eminger at the left point. Eminger's wrist shot made its way through traffic and past Vokoun with 2:51 to go in regulation.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay fell to 2-3-4 at home this season...Vokoun posted his first win on the road this season (1-5-0)...The Panthers were 2-for-5 on the power play and held the Lightning scoreless on their two chances with the extra skater...The 52 shots on goal marked a Tampa Bay franchise record. The previous mark of 51 was set on January 17, 2004, also against Florida...Attendance was 16,176.