NHL ROUNDUP : Panthers Beat Jets, Close In on Expansion Mark for Points

Once again, the Florida Panthers made someone else look like an expansion team.

Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck stopped 40 shots and the Panthers beat Winnipeg, 3-2, Tuesday night in a neutral-site game at Hamilton, Canada.

It was the Jets’ eighth consecutive loss and 16th consecutive game without a victory.

The Panthers ended a three-game losing streak and moved into a tie for third in the Atlantic Division with Washington. Florida has 62 points, only 11 short of the league record for an expansion team.

“I believe all of us here, deep down, believed we could compete at this level,” Vanbiesbrouck said. “Hopefully we can continue and get into the playoffs.”

Winnipeg is 0-14-2 in its last 16 games, and has only 41 points. Goalie Mike O’Neill fell to 0-6-1.

Vanbiesbrouck was at his best late in the game when the Panthers were forced to play the final 1:12 two men short. Although Russ Romaniuk scored to make it 3-2, a determined Vanbiesbrouck made sure Winnipeg didn’t force overtime.

Scott Mellanby, Mike Hough and Stu Barnes scored for Florida.

Vancouver 4, Calgary 4--Cliff Ronning scored a power-play goal midway through the third period and Pavel Bure scored twice as the Canucks managed a tie with the Flames at Vancouver.