BOSTON -- How good has Tomas Vokoun been for the Panthers in his past few starts?

``He's been elite for us,'' said coach Pete DeBoer.

Said teammate Radek Dvorak: ``He's been one of the best goaltenders in the league for a long time now. To get this kind of goaltending from Vokie latey, well, that's a plus. He's made the key saves at the key times. Goaltending like this is great. It lets you focus on the little things, your game because you know he'll make the saves.''

Vokoun has been lights-out for the Panthers in his past four starts. On Thursday, he shut out the host Bruins 1-0 in a shootout. That gave him three shutouts in four starts, the three shutouts tying him with Phoenix's Ilya Bryzgalov for the league lead.

The Panthers have needed the stout netminding from Vokoun. In his first shutout (a 4-0 blanking of the St. Louis Blues), the Panthers were able to spread out the scoring. Against Carolina, the Panthers needed three goals in the third to beat the hapless Hurricanes.

On Thursday, it was Vokoun and not much else.

``We have to help him,'' Dvorak said.

Florida had a few scoring chances in the opening period against Tim Thomas and the Bruins but were outshot 19-1 in the second period. Vokoun hung in there and gave the Panthers a chance.

Florida got the win when Cory Stillman beat Thomas on Florida's fourth shot of the shootout. Vokoun had already stopped four shots from the Bruins.

``He has to be the first star of the night,'' said Stillman. ``He kept us in it and gave us a chance. You know what? That's what goalies do. He gave us a chance.''

SHOOTOUT SUCCESS

The Panthers missed the playoffs last season because of their failures in the shootout. This year, the shootout is helping the Panthers have a respectable record.

Last year, Florida lost two of its first three shootout games; this season, the Panthers have won three of four. Going into Friday's games, Florida's three shootout wins are tied for second-highest in the league. Pittsburgh, which handed Florida its only shootout loss this season, leads the NHL with four such wins.

All of Florida's overtime games have been decided by a shootout.

``It's huge,'' DeBoer said. ``It cost us the playoffs last year. This year, the shootout has given us the opportunity to keep our head above water until we find our team identity.''

• The New York Islanders, who visit BankAtlantic Center on Saturday night, have struggled in overtime games. Heading into Friday's game at Carolina, the Islanders have won two of eight overtime games.

Alan Cohen's decision to step down as general partner of the Panthers will officially be announced Monday in Sunrise. The Miami Herald previously reported that Panthers minority owners Cliff Viner and Stuart Siegel will run the team after Cohen steps aside. The Panthers have said there will be a 1:30 news conference on the club level of the team's arena.