Ottawa's Hurme stops 36 shots, blanks Panthers 2-0
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jani Hurme made the most of his opportunity.
Hurme, Ottawa's backup goaltender, made 36 saves for his third career
shutout and Martin Havlat and Daniel Alfredsson scored goals as the
Senators beat Florida 2-0 on Wednesday night.
"Some of the stops were lucky, but concentrating brought me some luck,"
Hurme said. "I felt good the whole game. I was very excited to get my
first start."
Ottawa dealt the Panthers their second shutout in as many home games
this season.
Hurme made a stick save on Panthers star Pavel Bure with 1:10 left en
route to his first shutout since Jan. 20 against Tampa Bay. Bure, who
led the NHL with 59 goals last season, has not scored this season.
"We can't be satisfied with no goals and losing," Pavel Bure said. "We
have to find a way to win."
Ottawa, coming off a 6-2 victory over Carolina on Tuesday night, took a
1-0 lead just 1:30 into the game.
Havlat beat Roberto Luongo on a power play for the Ottawa forward's
fourth point in two games and Ottawa's sixth power-play goal of the
season. Marian Hossa gained control along the boards and passed to
Havlat, who beat Luongo to the glove side.
"It was a great pass from Marian then it was easy to put it in the
net," Havlat said. "It was a nice play for me."
Luongo was injured at 3:47 of the opening period when teammate Valeri
Bure's skate cut his right forearm as the goalie went down to stop a
shot. With blood gushing from the arm, Luongo left the ice and was
replaced by Trevor Kidd.
Luongo needed stitches to close the cut and is expected to miss a
minimum of a week.
"It's a deep cut, numerous stitches," Florida coach Duane Sutter said.
"Thankfully, it didn't hit any tendons or ligaments."
Kidd made some big saves, including getting his glove on a shot by
Shawn McEachern late in the second period after he stopped Sami Salo's
shot from the point. Hurme also was strong, stopping Ryan Johnson and
Valeri Bure in the last two minutes of the period.
"I felt strong the whole game, but there was lots of action in the
second period with the power plays," Hurme said. "My legs were a little
tired."
Ottawa made it 2-0 with a second left in the second when McEachern
scored his first goal of the season off a rebound.
Pavel Bure had eight shots Wednesday, and narrowly missed a goal when
the moorings came off the goal just before he sent the puck into the
net.
Notes: Florida left winger Bill Lindsay was a healthy scratch for the
second straight game, and only the sixth time in his 660-game NHL
career. . . . Panthers defenseman Paul Laus played after missing
practice Tuesday because of the flu. . . . Florida's Robert Svehla
extended his team-record streak to 222 straight games. He hasn't missed
a game since Dec. 19, 1998. . . . Six players on the Ottawa roster were
selected in first round of the NHL draft. . . . Ottawa center Todd
White has a point in every game this season. . . . Florida will call up
Wade Flaherty to back up Kidd until Luongo is healthy.