Tomas Vokoun Backs Up Anderson

TERMINAL 3, FORT LAUDERDALE'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEAR HOLLYWOOD BUT POSSIBLY IN DANIA BEACH -- Didn't get this into my story last night, and since I have the day off today, thought I would share this: I spoke to Tomas Vokoun after the game yesterday, and the first thing I asked was how it felt to be back in there.

Vokoun, you might remember, was replaced in net after giving up three goals in the third period of a loss to Buffalo and sat the following four games.

''It's always tough when you don't play, especially at a time like this,'' he said. ''You want to play. Andy did a great job.''

Then he went on to praise his backup, saying ''hockey isn't fair.''

What do you mean Tomas?

''Andy didn't deserve to come out,'' Vokoun said, alluding to Florida's 3-1 loss to Atlanta on Friday. ''We didn't score any goals and we lost.''

That's pretty strong right there kids. And that sounds like a pretty good team player to me.

-- Pete DeBoer on Florida's playoff chances: ''Do I think if we win the next three games will we be in the playoffs? Yes I do.''

-- Also forgot to give props yesterday to Nathan Horton for somehow saving that puck to keep the Panthers in the Penguins zone right before David Booth scored to make it 3-1. That was a big-time hustle play by Nate.

-- Sunday's Games (and how they affected the Panthers): Florida beating the Pens was huge. H-U-G-E. Big games tomorrow.

-- Monday's Games (and who the Panthers would be rooting for if they weren't so busy ringing that Liberty Bell)

Red Wings @ Sabres, 7: Buffalo still has an outside chance to catching the Rangers/Panthers. So, Belle Tire!

Senators @ Canadiens, 7:30: Panthers root against Habs tonight, then root for them tomorrow. Tough back-to-back for the Habs.

-- The Standings (presented by the Camden Club at Camden Yards and Nacho Mama's on the Square; courtesy of TSN.ca)

Eastern
Rank	Team	GP	W	L	OT	PTS	GF	GA	Home	Away	Last 10	Streak
1	y-Boston	78	51	17	10	112	260	181	28-6-6	23-11-4	8-1-1	Won 6
2	y-Washington	79	48	23	8	104	260	234	29-9-3	19-14-5	6-2-2	Won 1
3	x-New Jersey	79	49	26	4	102	237	201	27-11-1	22-15-3	3-6-1	Won 2
4	Philadelphia	78	42	25	11	95	255	229	23-12-4	19-13-7	5-4-1	Lost 1
5	x-Carolina	79	44	28	7	95	227	218	25-13-1	19-15-6	8-1-1	Won 8
6	Pittsburgh	79	42	28	9	93	249	233	24-13-3	18-15-6	6-2-2	Lost 2
7	Montreal	78	41	27	10	92	241	233	24-8-7	17-19-3	5-3-2	Won 3
8	NY Rangers	79	40	30	9	89	201	213	24-11-4	16-19-5	5-4-1	Lost 2
9	Florida	79	39	29	11	89	223	223	21-12-7	18-17-4	5-4-1	Won 1
10	Buffalo	78	38	31	9	85	235	227	22-14-3	16-17-6	4-4-2	Lost 1
11	Ottawa	78	34	34	10	78	207	225	21-12-6	13-22-4	6-4-0	Won 1
12	Toronto	79	32	34	13	77	240	287	15-15-9	17-19-4	5-5-0	Lost 2
13	Atlanta	79	34	39	6	74	247	271	17-19-2	17-20-4	6-4-0	Lost 1
14	Tampa Bay	79	24	37	18	66	202	263	12-16-11	12-21-7	1-5-4	Lost 6
15	NY Islanders	78	26	43	9	61	196	255	17-16-6	9-27-3	3-6-1	Won 1
Western
Rank	Team	GP	W	L	OT	PTS	GF	GA	Home	Away	Last 10	Streak
1	y-San Jose	79	52	16	11	115	252	196	31-4-4	21-12-7	7-2-1	Won 1
2	y-Detroit	78	50	19	9	109	286	232	27-8-4	23-11-5	6-4-0	Won 1
3	x-Calgary	78	44	28	6	94	244	237	25-10-4	19-18-2	4-6-0	Lost 1
4	x-Chicago	78	43	24	11	97	250	208	23-9-7	20-15-4	6-2-2	Won 3
5	x-Vancouver	79	42	27	10	94	240	219	22-12-5	20-15-5	5-4-1	Lost 3
6	Columbus	79	40	29	10	90	218	218	25-12-3	15-17-7	4-2-4	Lost 2
7	Anaheim	80	41	33	6	88	237	230	19-18-3	22-15-3	8-2-0	Lost 1
8	Nashville	79	39	32	8	86	203	218	24-12-4	15-20-4	5-2-3	Won 1
9	St. Louis	79	38	31	10	86	224	231	22-13-5	16-18-5	6-2-2	Lost 1
10	Minnesota	79	37	33	9	83	202	192	21-11-7	16-22-2	5-4-1	Lost 1
11	Edmonton	79	37	33	9	83	227	241	17-16-6	20-17-3	4-6-0	Won 1
12	Dallas	79	35	34	10	80	223	248	20-16-5	15-18-5	2-6-2	Won 1
13	Los Angeles	78	32	35	11	75	200	225	17-15-8	15-20-3	3-6-1	Won 1
14	Phoenix	79	34	38	7	75	198	242	22-14-3	12-24-4	6-3-1	Lost 1
15	Colorado	78	32	44	2	66	197	251	18-20-0	14-24-2	2-7-1	Won 1