Overtime Is No Problem for Panthers Now

Dave Lowry’s tip-in goal 4:06 into overtime Thursday night gave Florida a 4-3 victory over Philadelphia at Miami, ended a two-year overtime drought for the Panthers and evened the Eastern Conference series at 2-2.

“We were very worried as far as the overtime is concerned,” said Florida goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, who had a season-high 43 saves. “We haven’t had that much good luck in overtime and this was our first playoff overtime. Maybe we exorcised some demons here tonight.”

The last overtime victory for Florida came on Dec. 2, 1993, in a 2-1 win over Buffalo.

Lowry deflected a wrist shot by defenseman Ed Jovanovski past goaltender Ron Hextall for the game-winner. It was Lowry’s sixth goal of the playoffs.

Hextall, who had 28 saves, said he didn’t believe the goal should have counted, because the net came off its mooring when two players jostled behind it. Bob Clarke, the Flyer general manager, was heard arguing vociferously with officials after the game.

“We got robbed a bit with the net,” Hextall said. “That’s the way it goes.”

A video review of the goal was called, but referee Rob Shick said he just wanted to see if the goal was scored off a skate. “Yes, the net was up, but it was pushed by a Philadelphia defenseman,” he said.

Philadelphia’s Mikael Renberg sent the game into overtime with his second goal of the night with 1:07 to play in the third period. The score was set up by Dale Hawerchuk, who fed the puck from behind the net to Renberg.

It was the second time the Flyers had come back to tie the game.

Rob Niedermayer gave Florida a 2-0 lead with two first-period goals, his first goals in the playoffs. Renberg and Rod Brind’Amour tied it in a second period, and the Panthers took a 3-2 lead when Stu Barnes scored with 5.5 seconds left in the period, redirecting Paul Laus’ shot past Hextall.

Pittsburgh 4, New York Rangers 1--The Penguins, keyed by Ken Wregget’s 40 saves, took a 3-1 lead in the series and moved within one victory of the Eastern Conference finals with a victory at New York.

Jaromir Jagr, Petr Nedved, Glen Murray and Mario Lemieux scored for Pittsburgh, which took an early lead and hung on to remain unbeaten (5-0) on the road in the playoffs.

The Penguins took a 1-0 lead at 4:35 of the first period when Jagr beat Mike Richter, and made it 2-0 at 1:27 of the second period on Nedved’s goal.

Adam Graves cut the lead to 2-1 on a power-play goal.

NHL Notes

Mighty Duck assistant coach Al Sims is scheduled to be interviewed for the San Jose Sharks’ coaching job today in Los Angeles. Brian Sutter, former coach of the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins, and former Calgary coach Dave King are among the other candidates being considered. The Sharks are also believed to have an interest in former King coach Robbie Ftorek and Jim Wiley, who filled the San Jose job in the interim after Kevin Constantine was fired this season.