Panthers hand Bruins crucial loss

Sunrise, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Roberto Luongo stopped 34 shots to lead the Florida Panthers in a 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

Florida will not be making the postseason, but they put a serious crimp in Boston's chances, as the Bruins are one point back of Pittsburgh for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Boston closes its season in Tampa Bay on Saturday, while the Penguins have a home game against the Islanders on Friday and finish the season in Buffalo on Saturday.

"It's tough," said Boston center Chris Kelly. "We've been a proud group that's always wanted to do things on our own and we're looking for help."

Jonathan Huberdeau, Jimmy Hayes, Aleksander Barkov and Brad Boyes each scored a goal for the Panthers, who snapped a two-game slide.

"They have to win now, but this was more about us showing up now that we're out of it," said Florida forward Shawn Thornton. "I really wanted to win this game. It feels good in here."

Florida right wing Jaromir Jagr had two assists in the game, giving him 1,800 points in his career. His first assist moved him past Ron Francis for fourth on the all-time points list in NHL history, and his second assist tied him with Adam Oates for sixth in helpers with 1,079.

Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each had a goal, while Tuukka Rask allowed all four goals on 30 shots for the Bruins, who had a five-game winning streak broken.

Florida went on top 4:02 into the third when Huberdeau lifted a backhand in from a sharp angle at the left side that found its way past Rask.

Four minutes later, the Panthers gave themselves some insurance as Dave Bolland sent a pass from behind the net to the front where Boyes one-timed it home.

Boston got one back with 6:45 to play in the third as Marchand skated from behind the net to the right circle and lifted in a wrister.

The Panthers, though, got it back two minutes later as a turnover in the Boston end was finished off on a wrister from Hayes for his 19th goal of the season.

A too many men on the ice penalty to the Bruins with 2:37 to play killed any hopes of a comeback.

The game stayed scoreless until 4:58 left in the second when the Bruins went on top courtesy of the power play. Torey Krug threw a shot on net from the left point that was stopped, and Bergeron was there to lift a backhand in for his 23rd goal of the season.

Florida, though, scored a power-play goal of its own with 1:20 to play in the second as Barkov took a feed from Jagr at the right point and skated down to the circle before snapping a shot between the pads of Rask.

Game Notes

Florida hosts New Jersey on Saturday to finish the season ... Gordie Howe sits third in points with 1,850 ... Both teams were 1-for-3 on the power play.