Blues score quick pair, beat Panthers

The Associated Press

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Twenty-four hours after letting an opportunity slip away, St. Louis said goodbye to its recent road blues.

Keith Tkachuk and Cory Stillman scored less than two minutes apart early in the third period to lift St. Louis to a 2-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.

The triumph was just the Blues' second in their last 13 road games and first in their last six.

St. Louis lost 4-3 in overtime at Tampa Bay on Friday night after allowing the Lightning to tie the score in the last three minutes of regulation.

"I know we did a lot of good things 1/8at Tampa Bay 3/8 and it continued on tonight," Blues coach Joel Quenneville said. "Florida had a flurry there in the third period, but for the most part, I think we controlled the game and did a lot of good things."

Brent Johnson made 17 saves to earn his third shutout of the season (16-10-6-3).

Roberto Luongo starred in defeat, stopping 38 of 40 shots for the Panthers (10-19-2-3).

"It was not much work early; it was a close game into the third period," said Johnson, who played despite hurting his right knee in pre-game warmups. "Luongo held them in the game. I was just playing patient. It was a game of defense and we outworked them.

"I'm glad they didn't get many shots. 1/8The knee 3/8 stung every time I went down on it."

Each goalie made a key glove save to keep the game 0-0 through two periods.

Johnson thwarted Pavel Bure on a one-timer 9:34 into the first period, and Luongo snared a Jamal Mayers shot 8:54 into the second. Luongo also made a sliding leg save of a Scott Young shot midway through the second period.

"My satisfaction is winning -- I don't get satisfaction losing 2-0," Luongo said.

"We weren't in the game at all," Panthers coach Mike Keenan said. "The only reason it was interesting was Roberto Luongo. He kept it from being completely embarrassing."

Tkachuk scored his 17th goal 4:53 into the third period. Stillman added his sixth 1:48 later.

"We controlled the game, we took a lot of shots," Tkachuk said. "We finally got a few breaks. It was nice to put one away.

He said it was "frustrating" not scoring during the first two period, but added, "you just have to stick with it. We need to get back to the way we're capable of playing."

Less than two minutes after Tkachuk scored, Florida's Dan Boyle broke his stick and lost control of the puck behind his own net. Former Panthers forward Scott Mellanby took the puck and centered it to Stillman, who then shot the puck past a sliding Luongo.

"Boyle got a bad break when he broke his stick," Mellanby said. "I just threw it out front. I was trying to get it to 1/8Jamal 3/8 Mayers, but Stillman made a great play. It was an unfortunate break for Luongo.

"It's frustrating to take 40 shots but Luongo kept them in the game. He's a great player. He's the cornerstone of the franchise."

Florida, shut out for the first time in its last 15 home games, fell to 4-4 under new coach Keenan.

"They don't know how to prepare as professionals,"' Keenan said of the Panthers. "There's a lot of people in there that have had little experience and very little demand put on them in terms of meeting those kinds of expectations."

NOTES: The Blues outshot the Panthers 32-9 through two periods. ... This was the only meeting this season between the Blues and Panthers. ... The Blues' power play is 2 for its last 55 on the road.