Luongo’s 50 Saves Shut Down Lightning

It took perhaps the best goaltending performance in the NHL this season to slow down the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Roberto Luongo’s 50 saves, the most in the league this season, along with Olli Jokinen’s two third-period goals were the difference in the Florida Panthers’ 2-1 victory Saturday night at Sunrise, Fla.

“I’ve been feeling good all year,” Luongo said. “Some nights the bounces go for you, some nights they don’t. Tonight, obviously they did and we got two points.”

Luongo kept Florida in the game in the first two periods while the Panthers were being outshot, 34-9. His best save came midway through the second period after a rebound when he reached out with his glove to stop Tim Taylor’s shot into an open net.

“Let’s face the facts, if he doesn’t play like he does for 40 minutes, we’re nowhere near that game,” Florida Coach Rick Dudley said. “We know it. Everybody knows it.”

The Panthers ended a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) despite being outshot, 51-15. The 51 shots are a franchise record for Tampa Bay, beating the old mark of 47.

The Lightning had won five in a row.

St. Louis 2, Minnesota 2 -- Doug Weight scored on a power play with 1:37 left in regulation to give the Blues a tie at St. Louis that extended the Wild’s overtime unbeaten streak to 24 games. Minnesota leads the NHL with 14 ties and is the only team without an overtime decision.

Nashville 2, Edmonton 1 -- Scott Walker scored a goal and assisted on another at Nashville and the Predators stretched their unbeaten streak to six games. Greg Johnson’s short-handed goal at 8:28 of the third period was the difference.

Philadelphia 4, Toronto 0 -- Robert Esche made 35 saves for his second shutout of the season and Michal Handzus scored twice to lead the Flyers at Toronto. Philadelphia also defeated Toronto, 4-1, on Friday and has outscored Toronto, 21-3, in their last four meetings.

Ottawa 4, Boston 0 -- Martin Havlat had two goals and two assists, and Martin Prusek made 20 saves to lead the Senators at Ottawa. Brian Pothier and Wade Redden also scored to help the Senators end the Bruins’ seven-game unbeaten streak.

New York Rangers 2, Montreal 2 -- Alexei Kovalev scored with 5:06 left in the third period to lift the Rangers into a tie at Montreal. Ranger goalie Mike Dunham made 25 saves, including a sprawling stop to deny Michael Ryder in overtime.

New Jersey 2, Washington 1 -- Patrik Elias scored two goals, including the winner 2:17 into overtime to lift the Devils at East Rutherford, N.J. Corey Schwab, giving Martin Brodeur a rare day off, made 18 saves to improve to 2-0-1 this season.

San Jose 2, Colorado 1 -- Nils Ekman scored early in the third period and Vesa Toskala made 32 saves to lead the Sharks at Denver. San Jose is 10-2-1-1 in its last 14 games.

New York Islanders 4, Buffalo 2 -- Kenny Jonsson had a goal and assist, and Rick DiPietro made 27 saves to lead the Islanders at Uniondale, N.Y. New York has won nine of 11 at home.

Dallas 3, Calgary 2 -- Jere Lehtinen and Jason Arnott scored 2:32 apart midway through the third period to lead the Stars at Calgary, Canada.

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Philadelphia defenseman Eric Desjardins broke his right arm when he collided with teammate Jeremy Roenick in Saturday’s game against Toronto, and is expected to sit out six to eight weeks.... New Jersey captain Scott Stevens, 39, confirmed that he has post-concussion syndrome and will be sidelined indefinitely. He has sat out the last five games.... The Vancouver Canucks traded veteran defenseman Jiri Slegr to Boston for future considerations. Slegr, 32, had signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Canucks in early September.... Colorado forward Peter Forsberg was a late scratch for the Avalanche’s game against San Jose on Saturday night because of a groin injury.