NHL ROUNDUP : Panthers Seeking Help From Across the State

Taken into a seemingly certain playoff spot by their defense and goaltending two weeks ago, the Florida Panthers were taken back out again Tuesday.

By defense and goaltending.

“It’s funny what pressure can do to you,” Quebec Coach Pierre Page said after his Nordiques handed the Panthers a 5-2 loss Tuesday night. “Unfortunately for them, the two guys that got them here had bad nights. They’ve had a great season, but their two big guys didn’t come through for them.”

Florida goalie Mark Fitzpatrick said most of the Nordiques’ goals could have been stopped.

When asked about the goaltending, Florida’s all-star goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, who was pulled for the first time this season, said: “It certainly wasn’t the best.”

He is 0-5-2 in his last seven games.

In an irony of sorts, the loss puts Florida, an expansion team, at the mercy of instate rival Tampa Bay. The Panthers need the Lightning to beat the New York Islanders tonight to stay in the playoff race. New York holds a one-point advantage for the eighth and final Eastern playoff spot, largely because Florida is 0-4-4 in its last eight games.

Dallas 9, St. Louis 5--Dave Gagner scored four goals as the Stars won at home and clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Gagner’s first two goals came during a three-goal Dallas blitz in the opening 6:49 of the game.

Brendan Shanahan had a hat trick for the Blues, giving him 50 goals for the season. The hat trick was the sixth of his career and gave him 10 goals in his last nine games.

New York Rangers 3, Buffalo 2--The Sabres lost a two-goal lead in the third period and a chance to solidify their playoff position at New York, where the Rangers won on goals by Adam Graves, Alexander Karpovtsev and Brian Noonan.

Washington 4, Winnipeg 3--Steve Konowalchuk and Kelly Miller scored 26 seconds apart in the Capitals’ three-goal first period and they wrapped up seventh place in the Eastern Conference at Landover, Md.

Don Beaupre had 27 saves for Washington, which will open the playoffs Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Chicago 4, Toronto 3--Dirk Graham’s two goals and Ed Belfour’s strong goaltending led the Blackhawks at Toronto and ended the Toronto Maple Leafs’ hopes of winning the NHL’s Central Division.

Toronto’s loss clinched first place in the division for the idle Detroit Red Wings.

Philadelphia 4, New Jersey 2--Jason Bowen’s first goal of the season with 8:32 to play at Philadelphia helped the Flyers snap a three-game winless streak.

Bowen found a loose puck at the top of the left faceoff circle and beat Devil goalie Chris Terreri with a hard, high slapshot to the glove side to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead.

The victory was only the Flyers’ fourth in their last 11 games.