Olympic break is no vacation for Panthers

After loss, getting away no vacation for Panthers

Optimism remained low as Florida entered the Olympic break after another road loss and fell in the playoff chase.

BY GEORGE RICHARDS

grichards@MiamiHerald.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Florida Panthers wanted to feel positive about their position going into the Olympic break, saying a strong finish would lead to renewed optimism upon their return.

Perhaps now they can use the 16-day hiatus to regroup, having fallen further back in the playoff chase after losing 5-3 to the Sabres on Saturday night.

Florida can feel good about the effort after rallying from a 2-0 deficit to tie it in the second, but the Panthers still failed to earn their eighth road victory of the season.

Only Washington and St. Louis have fewer road victories (six) than Florida and Pittsburgh (seven).

''We have some work to do,'' center Joe Nieuwendyk said. ``We missed an opportunity tonight. We've dug ourselves this hole and we can't look back. I think everyone can use this break to rest up and get rejuvenated.''

Florida, which resumes play Feb. 28 at Tampa Bay, now trails Montreal by eight points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and has five teams ahead of it in the standings. The Panthers have 25 games left after the break.

''The key right now is for us to regroup and use this time to refocus and come back,'' coach Jacques Martin said. ``We're going to have to string some wins together.''

`TOUGH WAY TO LOSE'

The Panthers, who had been 3-0 against Buffalo this season, got off to a rough start with the Sabres playing inspired hockey in front of their 11th sellout crowd of the season at HSBC Arena.

With 2:31 left in the first period, Buffalo took a 1-0 lead when Jean-Pierre Dumont hacked at the puck in midair and sliced it past Luongo. Five minutes into the second period, Jiri Novotny scored his first NHL goal off a slick backhanded pass from Derek Roy.

''It's a tough way to lose,'' Luongo said. ``We made some mental mistakes, myself included, and that cost us the game. We're playing desperate for the playoffs, so it's unfortunate mistakes were made that cost us the points. It's a disappointing one.''

Florida appeared to awaken later in the second. Chris Gratton, whose line has been seemingly unstoppable of late, got in front of the net, knocked Teppo Numminen out of the way and chopped the puck into the net at 10:49.

Jon Sim continued his hot streak by scoring his sixth goal in the past four games with 3:54 left in the second period to tie it 2-2. Sim, who recorded a hat trick Tuesday at Washington, took a pass from Juraj Kolnik on an odd man rush.

It seems a bad time for Sim and Gratton to part. They have combined for 10 goals and eight assists since being paired up last week.

''We have some chemistry and when the puck bounces your way in games and happens to go in, that builds confidence,'' Gratton said. Added Sim: ``The chemistry will still be there when we get back. We'll do the little things.''

MONTADOR `BEAT UP'

Buffalo broke the tie with 49.9 seconds left in the second, with players slowing down expecting a stoppage of play. But Maxim Afinogenov, who was being pulled to the ice, made a great pass to Vanek, who scored.

The Sabres made it 4-2 on Vanek's second goal, then padded their lead with Jason Pomonville's power-play goal with 3:34 left. Mike Van Ryn scored off a pass from Nathan Horton for Florida's final goal 15 seconds later.

Defenseman Steve Montador, who got into a nasty battle with Numminen, broke his nose during the scrum after Buffalo's fourth goal. Montador's swollen nose seemed to be representative of Florida's mood heading into the break.

''I got beat up,'' Montador said.

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