Stat Trick: Florida 7, Isles 1

Nathan Horton recorded his second career hat trick as the Florida Panthers pounded the Isles 7-1 on Monday night.  On to the trick:

1. The Islanders were generous hosts, with giveaways galore, but were in the game through two periods, trailing just 3-1.  Michal Repik scored the only goal in the first period, and Horton sandwiched a Jesse Joensuu goal in the second..  It was Joensuu's first NHL goal this season, and the second of his career.  Trent Hunter and Rob Schremp drew the assists; it was Hunter's first point in five games while Schremp extended his point streak to three games. 

2. The game fell apart for the Islanders in the first minute of the third period as Steven Weiss and Kamil Kreps scored in the first 55 seconds to chase Dwayne Roloson, who suffered his first Coliseum loss, to the bench.  Roloson finished with eighteen saves.

3.  Marty Biron fared no better, allowing two goals on three shots in the final 19:05.  Both goals, by Radek Dvorak and by Horton, were scored on the power play -- the only two opportunities all night for the Panthers.  It was the first time the Panthers had scored two power play goals  in a road game all season.  Horton's hat trick was the second of his career; he recorded one against Nashville in 2005 and was the first socred by Florida agaisnt the Islanders since Pavel Bure did so in March, 2001.

..a few more...

4..  Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves to record his first victory in five starts since being injured by teammate Keith Ballard's stick two weeks ago.

5..  Josh Bailey played in his 100th NHL game, but failed to record a shot for the seventh straight game.  Andy Sutton returned after missing six games, while Jack Hillen got back in the lineup after being injured early in Saturday's OT win over Boston.

6.  Florida had four players with at least two points: Horton (3-1-4), Weiss (1-1-2), Repik (1-1-2) and Michael Frolik (0-2-2). 

7.  Nine Panthers were +2 while Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo were each -3.  The Islanders did out-hit Florida 35-14.

8.  It was the Isles' worst home loss since being beaten by Buffalo by the same score on Columbus Day, 2008.  It also was their worst loss ever to the Panthers and the first time that they had ever allowed seven goals at home to Florida. 

9.  The Isles have now gone 19 games without winning consecutive games; they have only one winning streak this season --winning four consecutive games from October 28-November 2. 

10. The Panthers lead the season series 2 games to 0, and 4 points to 1.  Florida has won 9 of the last 11 vs. the Isles with New York holidng two loser points (2-7-2) in that stretch.  The season series continues January 21st at the Coliseum and concludes in Florida ten days later.

Up next:  The Isles and Rangers begin a home-and-home on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.  The Isles lead the season series 1-0, having defeated the Rangers 3-1 in October at the Coliseum.  Islander coach Scott Gordon owns only one career road win against an Atlantic Division opponent: it came on November 4, 2008 at the Garden.  The Isles are 1-13-1 in division road games under Gordon, and have lost 12 straight (all in regulation time). Its' the first home-home series between the squads since the Isles closed the Ted Nolan era by splitting two game with the Rangers in April, 2008 (with the Islander win coming in a shootout).
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: forever1940.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick