DAY OF NEWS: Panthers Play on Ice Doesn't Warrant Any as Bruins Roll 4-1

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BOSTON -- The big news came off the ice for the Panthers on Tuesday with Roberto Luongo coming back to town and Brad Boyes sticking around a little longer.

Good thing. Florida didn't do much on the ice.

The host Bruins scored twice within a four minute span in the first period and got a David Krejci hat trick en route to a 4-1 win over Florida. Boston has won seven straight against the Panthers.

"I think a lot of people are thinking, am I next, but those are excuses,'' coach Peter Horachek said of the pending trade deadline. "As professionals you can't let that go in. This is a business. Sometimes you will be traded, sometime not. You still have to play.''

Tim Thomas, who may have played his final game with the Panthers thanks to Luongo, made 35 saves. Boston opened the scoring at 7:29 of the first when Krejci picked off a Tom Gilbert clearing pass and beat Thomas. Not long later, Jarome Iginla got in front of Ed Jovanovski and sliced the puck through for a 2-0 lead.

Boston basically ended things when Krejci got his second with 47.6 seconds left in the second period.

Boyes, who signed a two-year deal worth over $5 million earlier in the day, hit a few posts as Florida tried to come back. Florida got its lone goal from Brian Campbell with 7:13 left.

Krejci scored into an empty net with Thomas returning for the final 14 seconds.

Posted with Blogsy