"Jacob Markstrom has been constantly billed as the Panthers goaltender of the future, but after a solid start in Tuesday's wild 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, he will most likely be their present choice to back up Jose Theodore when the season opens Oct. 8.

At the morning skate, Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said with expected backup Scott Clemmensen out for about a month after knee surgery, the competition would be wide open between Markstrom, 21, and Tyler Plante, 24, who has paid his dues in the ECHL and AHL for the past three years.

"It's a good opportunity for those guys to put there skills on display,'' Dineen said. "[There's been] a lot of talk about Jacob and the potential he has.

"Now, instead of potential, we're looking for some immediate stability for our goaltending situation. That will sort itself out in the next week.''

It might not take that long. Plante might as well book his plane reservation to San Antonio, Florida's AHL affiliate, after a nightmarish nine-minute span of the second period when he allowed three goals on 11 shots, including one in 14 seconds and two in his first 1:34."