CALGARY, Alberta – Radek Dvorak scored twice in a 3:05 span of the first period and fellow Czech star Tomas Vokoun made 27 saves for his 39th career shutout in the Florida Panthers' 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
Shawn Matthias added a goal midway through the third period for Florida, which opened the season with one-goal losses in Edmonton and Vancouver.
Dvorak beat Miikka Kiprusoff off a rebound at 4:20 of the first period and scored again on a slap shot at 7:25. Marty Reasoner assisted on both goals.
On the first goal, Reasoner shook off rookie Flames center Mikael Backlund and whipping a backhand toward the net. Kiprusoff kicked out his pad to make the stop, but Dvorak swept in the rebound. On the line's next shift, Dvorak darted down the wing and, as he crossed the blue line, released a strong shot that clanged in off the goal post. Kiprusoff had no chance on the goal, with Flames defensemen Steve Staios and T.J. Brodie as well as a Panthers forward blocking his line of sight.
Vokoun made 17 saves in the third period. He's 13-4-4 in his career against Calgary with a 1.88 goals against average.
NOTES: The Flames also were shut out in their season-opening loss in Edmonton. ... Florida will face Tamnpa Bay at home on Saturday night. ... Kiprusoff finished with 15 saves. ... Florida' too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty in the second period ended a stretch of over 117 minutes without a penalty. ... Florida is 5 for 5 on the penalty kill in its first three games.
(This version CORRECTS Panthers 3, Flames 0. Corrects to Flames in first note.)
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