Panthers Pounce On Leafs
Posted March 23, 2010 10:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
David Booth had the first two-goal game of an injury-marred campaign as the Florida Panthers cooled off the red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night.
Panthers goalie Scott Clemmenson came within three minutes of registering his first shutout of the season, but still finished with 42 saves.
Michael Frolik and Jason Garrison also scored for Florida (30-31-11), which became the first visiting team to leave Air Canada Centre with a victory since March 2.
Fredrik Sjostrom replied for the Maple Leafs (26-35-12) and J.S. Giguere stopped 25 shots.
Booth is just now finding his stride after missing 45 games to the concussion he suffered on a controversial hit by Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards – the collision that essentially started the head shots debate. The injury kept Booth from exercising for two months and cost him a chance at playing for the U.S. at the recent Olympics.
However, the 25-year-old seems to be regaining the form that saw him score 31 goals last season. Booth now has four goals in as many games.
Toronto entered with wins in six of its last seven games and was hoping to move closer to getting out of the basement in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs remain four points back of 14th place.
The Leafs outshot the visitors 19-8 in the first period, but still went to the dressing room trailing 1-0. Booth took advantage of an error by Toronto defenceman Luke Schenn, knocking the puck from his stick before beating Giguere high to the glove at 11:30.
Toronto piled on the shots during two late power plays, but couldn’t beat Clemmensen – a trend that would continue on a night where they finish 0-for-6 with the man advantage.
Booth gave the Panthers a little more breathing room at 1:25 of the third period. He tipped a Bryan McCabe shot past Giguere to take the air out of the ACC crowd.
Florida went ahead 3-0 when Frolik’s shot deflected off Tomas Kaberle’s foot and behind Giguere. Shortly after Sjostrom ended Clemmensen’s shutout bid, Garrison hit the empty net.
Notes: Luca Caputi returned to the Leafs lineup after missing Saturday’s game because of sickness. … Toronto scratched Wayne Primeau and Jeff Finger. … Gregory Campbell (foot) missed the game for the Panthers. … Only one player remains on Toronto’s roster from when Florida captain Bryan McCabe played here – Tomas Kaberle. … Announced attendance was 19,158.
