NEW YORK, March 10 (UPI) -- Viktor Kozlov scored both goals and Roberto Luongo made 40 saves Monday night to lead the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers, who remained four points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Rangers have played three fewer games than the eighth-place New York Islanders and may have been guilty of looking ahead to Thursday's contest at Ottawa.
But the Panthers continued their strong play on the road, improving to 7-2-1 in their last 10 games away from home to close within two points of the Rangers with a game in hand. Florida also is relying on a collapse by the Islanders, who begin a tough six-game road trip Tuesday in Vancouver.
Kozlov scored on a shorthanded breakaway at 5:33 of the first period and snapped a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal from the right faceoff circle 3:32 into the third.
They were the 20th and 21st goals of the season for the 28-year-old Kozlov, who had not scored more than 20 in his previous eight seasons.
Defenseman Brian Leetch had nine of New York's 41 shots and thought he scored the tying goal with 10:19 left in the third period when he jammed a rebound through Luongo's pads. But a quick whistle by referee Mike Leggo negated the goal.
Eric Lindros nearly tied it for the Rangers with 8:23 remaining, but his shot from in front was stopped by Luongo along the goal line.
Sandy McCarthy got New York's lone tally at 8:26 of the second period.
