Vanya
11-13-2003, 04:53 PM
Florida (6-8-2-0) at New Jersey (7-3-4-0)
Game Info: 7:30 pm EST Thu Nov 13, 2003 TV: FFLA, MSG
Rick Dudley's debut as interim coach of the Florida Panthers went as well as he could have wished. His next game, though, could be decidedly more difficult.
Dudley will try to make it consecutive wins when he leads the Panthers into Continental Airlines Arena to face the defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils.
Dudley became the fifth consecutive Panthers coach to win his debut in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over Tampa Bay, following Mike Keenan, Duane Sutter, Terry Murray and Bryan Murray. Dudley, also the team's general manager, fired Keenan on Sunday, and then earned his first NHL head coaching win since Nov. 22, 1991, when he was with the Buffalo Sabres.
Roberto Luongo made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season and Niklas Hagman, Andreas Lilja, Jaroslav Bednar and Valeri Bure scored for the Panthers, who snapped a seven-game winless streak against Tampa Bay.
``I think it's satisfying,'' Dudley said. ``We're going to try and keep this not too high, not too low. We won a game. It's the start of hopefully many we'll win together, and that's what we're going to build toward.''
Luongo also had shutouts in the Florida debuts of Keenan and Sutter.
``It's great to be able to get two points for Dud,'' Luongo said. ``But in a guy's first game, guys always put on a great show. It's a matter of doing it game in and game out.''
Florida was without leading scorer Viktor Kozlov, who missed the game because of a facial injury sustained Saturday night at St. Louis. Lilja was injured when he was checked in open ice by Tampa Bay defenseman Cory Sarich. Although the exact nature of the injury wasn't immediately known, Dudley said Lilja might miss some action.
Dudley will now try to lead the Panthers to their second win over the Devils in as many tries this season. Florida edged New Jersey on the road 2-1 late last month.
The Devils are unbeaten in their last seven (5-0-2) following a 2-2 tie with Buffalo in Rochester, N.Y. on Wednesday.
New Jersey has been exceptional on the road this season, allowing just seven goals and going 4-0-2. The Devils have been below average at home, winning three of seven games.
Jamie Langenbrunner, who had a goal and an assist Wednesday, has three goals and an assist in his last four games.
GO DEVILS!!!
Game Info: 7:30 pm EST Thu Nov 13, 2003 TV: FFLA, MSG
Rick Dudley's debut as interim coach of the Florida Panthers went as well as he could have wished. His next game, though, could be decidedly more difficult.
Dudley will try to make it consecutive wins when he leads the Panthers into Continental Airlines Arena to face the defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils.
Dudley became the fifth consecutive Panthers coach to win his debut in Tuesday's 4-0 victory over Tampa Bay, following Mike Keenan, Duane Sutter, Terry Murray and Bryan Murray. Dudley, also the team's general manager, fired Keenan on Sunday, and then earned his first NHL head coaching win since Nov. 22, 1991, when he was with the Buffalo Sabres.
Roberto Luongo made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season and Niklas Hagman, Andreas Lilja, Jaroslav Bednar and Valeri Bure scored for the Panthers, who snapped a seven-game winless streak against Tampa Bay.
``I think it's satisfying,'' Dudley said. ``We're going to try and keep this not too high, not too low. We won a game. It's the start of hopefully many we'll win together, and that's what we're going to build toward.''
Luongo also had shutouts in the Florida debuts of Keenan and Sutter.
``It's great to be able to get two points for Dud,'' Luongo said. ``But in a guy's first game, guys always put on a great show. It's a matter of doing it game in and game out.''
Florida was without leading scorer Viktor Kozlov, who missed the game because of a facial injury sustained Saturday night at St. Louis. Lilja was injured when he was checked in open ice by Tampa Bay defenseman Cory Sarich. Although the exact nature of the injury wasn't immediately known, Dudley said Lilja might miss some action.
Dudley will now try to lead the Panthers to their second win over the Devils in as many tries this season. Florida edged New Jersey on the road 2-1 late last month.
The Devils are unbeaten in their last seven (5-0-2) following a 2-2 tie with Buffalo in Rochester, N.Y. on Wednesday.
New Jersey has been exceptional on the road this season, allowing just seven goals and going 4-0-2. The Devils have been below average at home, winning three of seven games.
Jamie Langenbrunner, who had a goal and an assist Wednesday, has three goals and an assist in his last four games.
GO DEVILS!!!