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(Sports Network) - Tomas Vokoun was masterful between the pipes, turning away all 41 shots in his sixth shutout this season, and Radek Dvorak scored both Florida goals as the Panthers blanked the Bruins 2-0.
Dvorak broke a scoreless tie on a shorthanded breakaway in the opening moments of the third period and added some insurance exactly five minutes later for the playoff-hopeful Panthers, who are riding a stretch of inspired play with wins in seven of 10 games this month.
Vokoun notched his 31st career shutout and third in the last six games. He even picked up an assist on Dvorak's first goal.
The Panthers set a new franchise mark with their NHL-leading ninth shutout overall this season. Backup Craig Anderson has the other three.
All-Star goaltender Tim Thomas faced 29 shots, allowing both scores in taking the loss. It was Boston's fifth setback in the last six games.
"I don't think it was a bad game, if anything it was just getting more traffic to the net," Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference said. "If you're able to get that many shots through something should go in off a rebound or a screen or something."
Florida's shorthanded exploits started in the first period when Michael Frolik's stick caught Dennis Wideman in the face, resulting in a four-minute minor. The penalty-kill units persevered and Vokoun logged 27 saves over the first 40 minutes.
His counterpart in Thomas was also perfect through two periods but not without some help from the iron. Nathan Horton hit the post in the first period and two successive scoring chances late in the second both caught the right post.
With exactly one second left in the middle stanza, Richard Zednik was hit with a double-minor for high sticking, setting the stage for Dvorak early in the third.
Dvorak started a rush up the right wing, knifed his way toward Thomas with a defender draped on his back and buried the puck top shelf for the lead 1:44 into the frame.
"It was nice to finally put the puck in. We hit like three or four posts. It was nice to see the puck go in for us in the third period," said Dvorak.
After Vokoun sprawled on the ice and blindly swung his leg to deny a wraparound attempt by Patrice Bergeron, the Panthers' ensuing rush saw Gregory Campbell hit Dvorak with a cross-ice pass that resulted in a forehand tally after the Czech winger deked Thomas down to his stomach.
Dvorak had a chance for the hat trick after Boston pulled Thomas just inside the final minute but Ference went down to his knees in the crease and blocked off the gaping net.
Game Notes
The Bruins won both previous games this season, including a 4-0 victory in Sunrise on December 6. Boston had taken three straight battles with the Panthers at the BankAtlantic Center...The Bruins remain an excellent 21-7-4 as the visitor this season...Boston's fifth-ranked power play was 0-for-6 on the night in nearly nine minutes of attack time...Florida went 0-for-4 on the man advantage.
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