Michael Frolik recorded three points on a goal and two assists, and David Booth netted the game-winning goal as Florida snuck past Philadelphia, 3-2, at BankAtlantic Center.
Bryan McCabe tallied the other goal for the Panthers, who picked up their first home win since January 10 and stopped a two-game losing streak.
Tomas Vokoun was strong, making 33 saves for the win.
Simon Gagne and Claude Giroux tallied for the Flyers, who had beaten Florida in Sunrise, 3-2, in a shootout on January 16.
Martin Biron stopped 24 shots, but lost for the third time in as many starts.
Panthers defenseman Karlis Skrastins committed a hooking infraction with just under two minutes remaining in regulation but play was not halted until 1:23 remained. On the delayed call, the Flyers pulled Biron, kept possession in the Panthers' zone, then after the whistle, skated 6-on-4 for the rest of the contest.
However, the visitors didn't have more than a couple scoring chances and one good shot on the advantage and the home team escaped with the victory.
The Flyers got the game's first goal at 10:44, as Mike Knuble backhanded a pass from the left wing which caromed off Gagne's skate at the side of the net and slid in.
McCabe evened the score with 5:26 to play in the first, jumping up to create a 3-on-2 and sticking a wrister through at the near post.
Frolik gave the Panthers their first lead of the game 7:43 into the second when his wraparound from the right side deflected off Philly backliner Matt Carle's stick and slid through Biron's pads.
Booth added a power-play marker on a deflection from Keith Ballard's point shot with 8:10 left in the period for a 3-1 Florida lead.
Giroux netted his first career tally off a feed from Darroll Powe only 1:51 into the third period to cut the Flyers' deficit to one, then Philadelphia had a potential game-tying goal wiped out a short time later.
A little more than 6 1/2 minutes in, defenseman Randy Jones dished to Mike Richards in the right circle for what looked like an easy score, but a goaltender interference call on Kimmo Timonen kept it a one-goal game and put Florida on a power play.
The Panthers failed to convert and dodged a bullet at the end of regulation.
Game Notes
Booth reached the 20-goal mark for the second straight year and is just two scores away from his career-best, set last season...Gagne reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time in his career and for the first time since a 41- goal year in 2006-07...Knuble's assist was his 100th as a Flyer...Biron has not won since January 10, a 4-1 decision over Toronto...Florida has won four of the last six games against Philly at home...The Panthers host Montreal on Thursday, and the Flyers play in Tampa on Friday.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
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