Isles Stay Hot, Cage Panthers

While the Islanders' winning streak grew, so did the Panthers' mounting frustrations.

Brad Isbister and Roman Hamrlik scored on power plays to back Wade Flaherty's first shutout of the season as the Islanders beat Florida 3-0 Wednesday for their fourth straight victory. The flu-ridden Panthers, who have one win in 11 games, began a five-game homestand with the disappointed crowd chanting "Fire Murray."

"You always worry about your job in this business," Panthers coach Terry Murray said. "You've got to win games. ... Everybody in that room is very concerned about it, and certainly I am."

Hamrlik also assisted on Mats Lindgren's shorthanded goal at 8:57 of the third period as New York stretched its unbeaten streak to 5-0-1. That's the Islanders' longest run since going 4-0-2 from Dec. 31-Jan. 15 of the 1995-96 season.

"I'm just trying to hit the net," said Hamrlik, who leads all NHL defensemen with six goals. "Every coach I ever had told me to hit the net and it doesn't matter if you shoot it 100 mph or 50."

"This was a team shutout, obviously," said Flaherty. "It was an awesome display of simple defensive hockey and unbelievable penalty killing."

Three minutes after the Panthers were held without a shot during a 55-second, two-man advantage, Isbister skated between Pavel Bure and Paul Laus before unleashing a wrist shot from the hig slot past Luongo at 18:22 for a 1-0 lead. Garry Galley assisted.

Isbister has five goals in six games. Many of the Islanders were fired up to beat Luongo, who has made it clear that he was still angry at the Islanders for trading him last summer.

"Obviously, it's nice to beat a guy who's been saying some things in the press," Isbister said. "It got us a little riled up. Anytime you play a former teammate you want to win pretty badly and not give him the satisfaction of winning."

Luongo, who had 28 saves and has been playing well this season despite his 0-4-2 record, was disappointed.

"I don't care who is playing on the other side, it's disappointing not to have a win yet on the season," Luongo said.

Flaherty, who stopped Pavel Bure's shots twice in the first period, was grateful for the prolific goal-scorer's flu-weakened condition.

"Anytime you come in here and the best player in the league has the flu, you'll take it," Flaherty said.

The Islanders had scored on just four of 45 power-play opportunities before getting the two extra-man goals on seven chances Wednesday.

"It was a long year last year where we talked a lot about losses," Islanders coach Butch Goring said of the winning streak. "I'm enjoying this and so are the guys. They're playing very well. They're a dangerous bunch, playing with a lot of confidence right now."

With Joey Tetarenko off for slashing, Hamrlik scored his sixth goal of the season 17 seconds into the third period on a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that deflected off the post, beating Luongo on the glove side.

Skating shorthanded, Lindgren came from behind the Panthers' goal to stuff in his first goal of the season. It was the Islanders' fourth shorthanded goal of the season.

Goring, who was under fire last season, wasn't ready to offer Murray any advice.

"Did anybody feel sorry for me last year?" Goring asked.

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