"A day before the Panthers rookies were slated to play their Tampa Bay Lightning counterparts in the first game of a five-day tournament, first-round pick Jonathan Huberdeau wondered if he would be in the starting lineup.

After a packed house at Saveology.com Iceplex watched Huberdeau score a goal and create several other chances in Florida's 4-2 victory, he probably should be wondering if he will be in the starting lineup Oct. 8 when the Panthers open against the Islanders.

Actually, the No. 3 overall pick of June's draft is pretty confident.

"I came here with the idea to be prepared to make the team,'' Huberdeau said before swooping past the Lightning defense in the second period to deposit a slick goal through Jaroslav Janus.

Huberdeau, 18, who added six pounds to his lanky 171-pound frame, also set up fellow draft pick Logan Shaw on a 2-on-1 break that ultimately went awry.

Huberdeau's line clicked in the first period when defenseman Alexander Petrovic's blast was rebounded in by Scott Timmins, a holdover from the previous regime who celebrated his 22nd birthday in style with a postgame shaving-cream pie to the face, delivered by goalie Jacob Markstrom."