Panthers use 4-goal 3rd period for 5-3 victory over Islanders

Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Weaver (43) defends in front of the crease with New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (21) defending in the second period of an NHL hockey game at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, March 2, 2014. Florida Panthers goalie Tim Thomas, left, looks on. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

Florida Panthers goalie Tim Thomas (34), Panthers right wing Scottie Upshall (19) and a teammate defend with New York Islanders defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky (11), of Slovakia, close by in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, March 2, 2014. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Scottie Upshall scored twice in the third period as part of a four-goal Panthers surge and Florida downed the New York Islanders 5-3 on Sunday.

Upshall's 11th of the season broke a 3-3 tie at 10:31 of the final period. The goal came on the rebound of shot by Shawn Mattias, who also scored two goals for the Panthers.

Upshall tapped the loose puck past backup goaltender Anders Nilsson, who started in place of Evgeni Nabokov. Upshall scored again at 15:26 on the power play to make it 5-3 for Florida. Tim Thomas made 35 saves for the Panthers.

The Islanders entered the third with a 3-1 advantage after Thomas Vanek scored twice in the first and Ryan Strome added a goal late in the second.

But Florida's Marcel Goc and Matthias scored early in the third to tie the game at 3 before Upshall's late scores.