Panthers News

Big challenge awaits Panthers' much-improved defense
"The Panthers defense has been much improved over the past few weeks, and it will be put to the test Friday against the defending Western Conference champion Red Wings. And Scott Clemmensen, Florida's most vocal defensive critic to date this season, will find out firsthand how much better things have gotten. Clemmensen, who gave up seven goals against Washington on Nov. 7 and said playing behind the Panthers defense was ``kind of survival'' afterward, will start in place of Tomas Vokoun. ``We didn't want to play Vokoun back-to-back in less than 24 hours with the travel,'' said coach Pete DeBoer, noting the Panthers visit the New York Rangers on Saturday. ``Those [Eastern Conference] games ..."
Detroit homecoming for DeBoer
"As Panthers coach Pete DeBoer stood inside Joe Louis Arena looking out at the ice Thursday, he was struck with memories from long ago. DeBoer was an assistant coach to Paul Maurice with the Detroit Junior Red Wings when they won the Ontario Hockey League title in 1995, drawing huge crowds while playing home games in Joe Louis Arena. It was the start of DeBoer's coaching career. He eventually became coach of the Red Wings when they became the Detroit Whalers and then Plymouth Whalers. "It's a nice area. My friends live right across the river, and I've got a lot of friends and family here so it's a little bit of a homecoming," DeBoer said. DeBoer's favorite memory in Joe Louis Arena? A ..."
Red Wings' Chris Osgood, Kirk Maltby will play vs. Panthers
"Coach Mike Babcock said goaltender Chris Osgood and forward Kirk Maltby will return to the lineup Friday, when the Detroit Red Wings host the Florida Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Jimmy Howard will get his next start in net Saturday at Montreal. "Howie played good in Montreal last year," Babcock said. "He took us to a shoot-out there and played well in there, so this gives him another day to just have a breath. He was excellent today in practice, too." Osgood and Maltby missed the last three games with flu-like symptoms. Babcock said Maltby will replace Brad May in the lineup."
Panthers get revenge against Sabres
"There was no way the Florida Panthers were going to get blown out again. The Buffalo Sabres embarrassed them with five first-period goals in the teams' first meeting, an onslaught Florida had no desire to repeat. So the Panthers sat back Wednesday night in HSBC Arena, focused on defense and hoped Buffalo would make enough mistakes to give them an offensive chance or two. It worked. The Panthers snapped the Sabres' three-game winning streak, boring most of the 18,546 fans but earning them two precious points with a 6-2 victory. "They just played boring till they got the lead," Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller said. "Then they played more boring." The Panthers had a 2-1 advantage at the start ..."
Panthers get some payback against Sabres
"Soon after the Panthers scored yet another third-period goal, a Sabres fan was shown on the arena big screen pointing to the ice with one arm and holding his nose with the other. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. For the Panthers, Wednesday's game might as well have been put on canvas in oil as they scored four in the final period to run away with a 6-2 win at HSBC Arena. ``We finally held a lead in the third,'' captain Bryan McCabe said. ``We played assertive, played smart and didn't turn the puck over. We stuck with the program and it worked out.'' Wednesday's win avenged Florida's embarrassing 5-2 loss to the Sabres on home ice on Oct. 21 -- with an extra goal thrown in ..."
Booth puts brakes on exercise
"Panthers winger David Booth has stopped exercising after suffering a setback in his rehab last week. Coach Pete DeBoer said Booth, who suffered a concussion Oct. 24 in Philadelphia, had exercised for a few days without post-concussion symptoms, but they returned when he increased intensity of his workouts. "We've kind of taken our foot off the gas and given him a few days off before we look to go back at it again," DeBoer said Wednesday after the morning skate. "But that's anticipated. We knew going through this process there was going to be good days and bad." DeBoer and Booth had talking about him possibly coming on this three-game trip so he could attend Friday's game against the ..."
Panthers at their best, top Sabres
"When the Panthers played the Sabres earlier this season, they were burned for three goals in the first five minutes and decidedly defeated. Then again, that was the seventh game, and up to that point the Panthers couldn't have been any worse of a team than they were, coach Pete DeBoer said. They haven't been any better this season than they were Wednesday night. They not only held off the Sabres late, but scored three goals in the final two-plus minutes for an impressive 6-2 win at HSBC Arena that drew loud boos from the few fans who stayed to the end. "We're starting to look more and more like the team I think we should look like," said DeBoer, whose team won for the sixth time in nine ..."
Oreskovich embraces new outlook
"Victor Oreskovich came to the Panthers with no guarantees. He knows full well his hockey path right now might have guided him to evenings in such outposts as Estero, Elmira, Wheeling and Kalamazoo. Two years ago, that kind of assignment prompted him to walk away from the sport -- the last move in a series of stops that too often ended in an abrupt departure. The new Oreskovich, though, has a sunnier outlook on hockey. ``Stepping away from the game for two years, I wasn't sure if I'd be in the East Coast league or God knows where,'' the Ontario native said Tuesday. Instead, Oreskovich finds himself in South Florida, where his first NHL goal helped the Panthers pick up a point Monday against ..."
Panthers shootout lineup can vary
"Although the Panthers have fared much better in shootouts this season compared to last year when their 3-8 record clearly cost them a playoff berth, their three meager backhand attempts to score on Kings goalie Jon Quick in Monday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Kings had some wondering how coach Pete DeBoer selects his shooters. DeBoer laughed when he admitted that he doesn't spend much time on selecting his shootout lineup. "That's usually not part of our pregame preparation,'' said DeBoer, whose team is 4-2 in shootouts this season, including 2-1 in the last three games. "We really want to concentrate on winning the game in 60 minutes as a staff and as a team. We'll start talking about that ..."
Shootouts key to success
"Although the Panthers have fared much better in shootouts this season, their three meager backhand attempts to score on Kings goalie Jon Quick in Monday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Kings had some wondering how coach Pete DeBoer selects his shooters. Despite four of Florida's seven victories coming in shootouts, DeBoer laughed when he admitted that he doesn't spend much time selecting his shootout lineup. "That's usually not part of our pregame preparation,'' said DeBoer, whose team is 4-2 in shootouts this season, including 2-1 in the last three games. Last year their 3-8 record clearly cost them a playoff berth. "We really want to concentrate on winning the game in 60 minutes as a staff ..."
Panthers' new bosses stress accountability
"The two Boca Raton businessmen who took control of the Florida Panthers on Monday promised more accountability, greater professionalism and an unwillingness to accept mediocrity. ``We are going to make people accountable to winning. Period,'' said Cliff Viner, who -- with Stu Siegel -- will be the Panthers' new co-general partners, replacing Alan Cohen. ``Stability is an important asset, but it's also important that everyone in the organization be constantly evaluated for their performance and be accountable to our expectations. If they don't meet that, then we should probably make changes.'' Siegel said at a news conference that the player payroll will remain in its current range ($53.3 ..."
Florida Panthers' minority partners take helm
"Changes are coming to the Florida Panthers. The team will introduce Stuart Siegel and Cliff Viner as co-managing partners of the hockey club at a news conference in Sunrise on Monday afternoon. Siegel and Viner are minority investors but will team up to take controlling interest from Alan Cohen. Siegel and Viner are self-professed hockey nuts. Siegel played collegiately at Pennsylvania, and he still plays regularly -- so much so, Siegel's large hockey bag is almost as permanent a piece of his BMW's interior as the floor mats. Like Siegel, Viner also graduated from Penn and also received his MBA from the Wharton School of Finance. Both hope to restore the Panthers' image on and off the ice. ..."
Florida Panthers, NHL experiencing a youth movement
"The NHL is definitely getting younger, as evidenced by the number of teenagers selected in this past draft who are getting substantial playing time. The Panthers have 19-year-old Dmitry Kulikov logging big minutes and playing on the top power-play unit just months after being selected 14th overall in Montreal. John Tavares, the top pick of that draft, was in town playing the Panthers on Saturday night and came into the game second on the Islanders in scoring. This season, six rookies from the Class of '09 made their teams' opening night roster. And with more and more teams backed up against the salary cap, the league may welcome even more youngsters in the near future. ``I don't know if ..."
A slow start becomes two-game winning streak for Florida Panthers
"Panthers coach Pete DeBoer said Saturday morning that his team had no excuses if it came out flat later that night. After the game, DeBoer didn't offer any for Florida's horrible start, but the team's finishing touches made it a little easier to swallow. The Panthers got four goals between the second and third periods and Nathan Horton scored the shootout winner as Florida beat the Islanders 5-4 in Sunrise. It was Florida's second victory in a row and fifth in its past seven games. ``It wasn't the start we wanted, but I thought we came back and played all right,'' said Horton, one of two Panthers to score in the shootout. ``It was a weird game. Good thing we're doing better in the ..."
Vokoun's saves have been the difference recently for Florida Panthers
"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 ..."
New Panthers majority owners promise winning culture
"The two Boca Raton businessmen taking control of the Florida Panthers said Friday they plan to bring a wininng culture, accountability and strong leadership to a hockey team that has lacked those qualities for years. In their first public comments since Alan Cohen agreed to cede majority ownership, Cliff Viner and Stu Siegel said they have opened lines of communication between the team's business and hockey operations. They promise to be accessible to team employees and fans and to create a stronger relationship with Broward County, Sunrise and other South Florida officials. "I think it starts from the top," said Siegel, who oversees the Panthers Foundation and works regularly in his ..."
Vokoun saving Panthers of late
"No one has been a harsher critic of Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun than coach Pete DeBoer. The demanding DeBoer, whose patience with goalies is about that of college football coach Steve Spurrier with quarterbacks, has held Vokoun to a high standard – in part because he's making $5.7 million per season – and doled out little praise. But after Thursday's performance in Boston, in which Vokoun posted his third shutout in his past four starts, DeBoer credited him repeatedly, noting he got the team through a rough second period and deserved two points, and "it was nice to get them for him." Vokoun finished with 40 saves against Boston. "He played a hell of a game," Bruins forward Shawn Thornton ..."
Panthers edge Bruins 1-0 in shootout
"When teammate Steven Reinprecht's shot hit the post, bounced off the back of Bruins goalie Tim Thomas' right leg and then off his blocker, Panthers' goalie Tomas Vokoun had the same reaction as just about every other person inside the Garden. "Oh, my God, it's never going to go in," Vokoun thought to himself. In the fourth round of the shootout, the puck finally crossed a goal line for the first time Thursday night. Cory Stillman scored against Thomas to give the Panthers a hard-fought 1-0 win on a night Vokoun recorded his third shutout in four games. "I was relieved," said Vokoun, who made 40 saves. "He deserved the two points tonight," coach Pete DeBoer said. "It was nice to get them ..."
Florida Panthers' Michael Frolik working harder to convert scoring chances
"Compared with last season, Panthers winger Michael Frolik is off to a great start. It took Frolik 18 games to score his first goal of the season last year. This year, he scored three in his first 14 games. But this isn't last season. There wasn't much expectation for Frolik to score a lot as a rookie last season, but once he got that first one on Nov. 20, he didn't look back. Frolik scored 21 goals with 24 assists last season, leading to heightened expectations this season. He is playing on Florida's top line, and the team is counting on him for offense. So far, though, it hasn't come as Frolik or the team had hoped. DRIVEN TO IMPROVE ``The nice thing about Michael is he's willing to work ..."
Tomas Vokoun shuts out Boston Bruins in Florida Panthers' shootout win
"The Panthers took just one shot in the entire second period, and two of their shooters completely missed the net during the shootout. Did the Panthers deserve to win Thursday night's game against the Boston Bruins? Goalie Tomas Vokoun sure did: He stopped 40 shots in regulation -- and all four he faced in the shootout -- and the Panthers got a goal from Cory Stillman to drop the host Bruins 1-0 at the Garden to snap a two-game skid. ``It was nice to get that for our goaltender,'' Panthers coach Pete DeBoer said. ``He deserved the two points. It was nice to get them for him.'' Vokoun and Boston's Tim Thomas get credit for a shutout, even though Thomas got a loss. And Stillman's goal won't ..."
Masked men seek identity for Florida Panthers
"For a fleeting moment, Radek Dvorak considered asking the Panthers' equipment staff to pack an extra metal-cage helmet before boarding the plane for Boston. You know, team unity and everything. ``We'll make it [look] like a high-school line out there,'' quipped Dvorak, the only member of his line currently without full-face protection on the ice. Dominic Moore is wearing the cage as he continues to heal from nasal surgery. Gregory Campbell has a full plastic shield while he recovers from the broken nose he got from a slap shot to the face last weekend. In the end, Dvorak opted to go with his usual headgear when the Panthers end a five-day layoff Wednesday night by facing the slumping ..."
MacIntyre's Oilers days over after Panthers' waiver claim
"Edmonton Oilers slugger Steve MacIntyre's ticket to the NHL was punched with his clenched fists, and now the big guy may be rejoining the Florida Panthers. Before he gets to the state of Florida, however, he's in the state of limbo. The Panthers, who lost MacIntyre on waivers to the Oilers in the fall of 2008 when Edmonton wanted his brand of justice, reclaimed the six-foot-five, 250-pound winger on Tuesday. But Florida wanted to send MacIntyre to their American Hockey League farm club in Rochester, so he is back on waivers in order to get to the minors. If he clears today, he'll be going to the farm team for a spell, but he hopes to be back in the NHL in time to see the Oilers when they ..."
Panthers looking for tough edge in claiming Steve McIntyre
"The Panthers went after some toughness Tuesday, but Steve McIntyre isn't expected to play the role of team enforcer for at least a few weeks. McIntyre, 29, was claimed off waivers by the Panthers so the team could send him to their American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester, N.Y. For that to happen, McIntyre would have to pass through waivers again. General manager Randy Sexton said the left winger needs to get into playing shape; he played in four games with Edmonton this season and a total of 26 in the past two. Sexton said he wants McIntyre to get some games in before he calls him up to the big club. ``We want to play grittier and upgrade the toughness on our team,'' Sexton said. ..."
Panthers grab MacIntyre from Oilers
"Edmonton Oilers' slugger Steve MacIntyre will be taking his brand of "fistic" justice back to the Florida Panthers after they claimed him off waivers today. When the Oilers were in need of a heavyweight during training camp in 2009 they grabbed the six-foot-five, 250-pound MacIntyre off the Panthers after seeing him protect his teammates in exhibition action. He was a fan favourite in Edmonton, playing in 22 games last season. He was willing to tussle with all the true toughies like Minnesota's six-foot-eight Derek Boogaard and Calgary's Brian McGrattan, but new Oilers coach Pat Quinn had only played MacIntyre four of his club's 17 games, and for 6:16 total. Quinn wants to roll four lines, ..."
Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov feels more a part of team
"On the ice for the first time since the first two-point game of his young career, Dmitry Kulikov said his performance was past due. Kulikov recorded his first goal of the season against the Washington Capitals and goaltender Jose Theodore on Saturday, a slap shot that put the Panthers up 2-1 before they fell 7-4. ``It makes me feel more a part of the team to score my first goal,'' said Kulikov, a rookie from Lipetsk, Russia. Kulikov assisted on a Cory Stillman tip-in in the third period for his second point. Kulikov -- the 14th pick in June's draft -- was in danger of being dropped to the juniors during the first nine games of the season. He said when a player knows he won't be sent down, ..."
Campbell looking to bounce back
"His face was stitched up and he had some damage to his teeth, but for the most part Panthers forward Gregory Campbell "looked good" to Pete DeBoer when the coach saw him Monday morning. Pending the results of the CT scan, Campbell probably will play in the Panthers' next game Thursday in Boston despite being struck in the face by a puck Saturday."
Clemmensen, DeBoer don't see eye to eye on Panthers' struggles
"Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen says he's had to operate in survival mode with "total chaos" in front of him for the four games he's played with his new team. After allowing seven goals in Saturday's loss to the Capitals in Washington, D.C., including five in a third period he described as "like quicksand out there," Clemmensen said his teammates didn't protect the front of the net well. When the puck got there, he added, there was such a scramble by the Panthers that "it looked like a fire drill." Coach Pete DeBoer's response Sunday: "I understand where a goaltender who has let in [12] goals in his last two starts would be frustrated, but it's misdirected. "When things aren't going well, ..."
Panthers goalie puts blame on team's defensive play
"Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen took his lumps during a third-period meltdown Saturday night as he surrendered five goals of a 7-4 loss to the host Capitals. After the game, he placed much of the blame on Florida's defensive deficiencies. ``One thing we need to work on is our coverage down low and behind the net,'' said Clemmensen, who has given up at least five goals in each of his past two starts. ``I'm not sure how it gets so bad at times. It's just a matter of knowing your responsibilities. We've got to work on things in practice. Unless we do that, so guys know what they're doing, then we're not going to get any better at it.'' Florida led 3-2 going into the third before things ..."
Panthers lose to Caps as Clemmensen can't weather late barrage
"Showered and dressed, Scott Clemmensen wiped his face with a towel before trying to explain what happened in the third period. "It's like Murphy's Law," the Panthers goalie said. "Anything that could go wrong went wrong for me out there." Clemmensen allowed five goals in the third period, one in which his team entered with a lead, and the Panthers lost to the Capitals 7-4 Saturday at Verizon Center a night after losing to them at BankAtlantic Center. "It's disheartening. Our guys played our butts off," coach Pete DeBoer said. "We did everything we didn't do last night in Florida. We won puck battles, we blocked shots. We were physically involved. We scored goals. We should win that game." ..."
Knuble, Fleischmann score a pair as Caps tame Panthers, 7-4
"The stars were most definitely not out for the Capitals on Saturday night. Forward Alex Ovechkin and defenseman Mike Green watched the game from a Verizon Center suite – the last place either wanted to be. That's 87 goals from last season that Washington couldn't count on as it played the Florida Panthers for the second night in a row. But Caps players have said for a week now that they can win games even without their top stars on the ice. A productive weekend against the Panthers helped prove that theory. Mike Knuble and Tomas Fleischmann each scored a pair of goals for Washington, which broke open a tight game with five third-period goals en route to a 7-4 victory. The Caps (10-3-4, 24 ..."
Pothier carries Capitals past Panthers
"Playing without Alex Ovechkin is one thing, but the Washington Capitals were losing a player a period Friday night. Thanks to a three-point night from Brian Pothier and 28 saves by Jose Theodore, the short-handed Caps ended a three-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory against the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center Ovechkin missed his second game with an upper-body strain, but the Caps lost defensemen Mike Green, Jeff Schultz and Shaone Morrisonn during this contest. Green took only four shifts in the first period before leaving with an undisclosed injury. Schultz went to the dressing after two shifts in the second and also did not return. To make matters worse, Morrisonn was ..."
Dvorak dons knee brace, skates with teammates
"Radek Dvorak didn't need surgery on his left knee, but he will have to wear a brace for a while. The Panthers' veteran winger is fine with the hindrance -- so long as he can play as soon as possible. Dvorak practiced with the Panthers on Friday for the first time since being taken out on a knee-on-knee hit delivered by Philadelphia's Darroll Powe on Oct. 24. Dvorak said being back on the ice with his teammates was a welcome respite from the hard skating administered by assistant coach Mike Kitchen, with whom Dvorak has been working since returning this week. ``I've been skating with Kitch for three days on my own, so this was nice,'' said Dvorak. ``I need to go out there for practice to ..."
Blown chances end Florida Panthers' win streak
"Alex Ovechkin was the biggest name out of the Washington lineup Friday night, but the Capitals also lost Mike Green and Jeff Schultz to undisclosed injuries in the first two periods. Didn't seem to slow the Capitals even a little bit. Washington took advantage of two scoring chances in the first 31 minutes and held off the Panthers in the third for a 4-1 victory. Florida came into the game with wins in three consecutive games. Washington had lost three in a row. The two teams meet again Saturday night in Washington. ``The key to the game was they won every loose puck battle,'' coach Pete DeBoer said. ``They were a desperate team: they lost three in a row, had some players out. We've been ..."
Sources indicate a shift in Panthers' ownership
"Alan Cohen's days as majority owner of the Panthers are numbered, as two partners in his ownership group are expected to take control of the team, sources said. Panthers Vice Chairman Cliff Viner and Managing Director Stu Siegel, both Boca Raton businessmen, have reached agreement to buy as much as half of Cohen's approximately 43 percent share of the team, a source said. They will become co-general partners, other sources said. The agreement has not been signed but is expected to be announced next week. Cohen is to retain a stake but will no longer be making team decisions. Panthers fans are desperate for change. The team has not made the playoffs since 2000, the longest playoff drought ..."
Panthers' win streak snapped against Capitals
"Jose Theodore stopped 28 shots, Brian Pothier had a goal and two assists and the Washington Capitals beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Friday night to break a three-game losing streak. Brendan Morrison scored twice and Tyler Sloan added a goal for the Capitals (9-3-4) in the opening contest of home-and-home series with the Panthers."
Short-handed Caps end three-game skid
"Playing without Alex Ovechkin is one thing, but the Washington Capitals were losing a player a period Friday night. Thanks to a three-point night from Brian Pothier, 28 saves by Jose Theodore and some excellent late work on the penalty kill, the short-handed Caps ended a three-game skid with a 4-1 victory against the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center. "You can't replace Alex Ovechkin, and you can't really replace Mike Green - there's only two guys in the league that do what they do," Pothier said. "We had to play a different style of hockey tonight. We had to play really intelligent hockey. We couldn't give up chances, and our goaltender had to be good. I thought we did all those ..."
Pothier carries Capitals past Panthers
"Playing without Alex Ovechkin is one thing, but the Washington Capitals were losing a player a period Friday night. Thanks to a three-point night from Brian Pothier and 28 saves by Jose Theodore, the short-handed Caps ended a three-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory against the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center Ovechkin missed his second game with an upper-body strain, but the Caps lost defensemen Mike Green, Jeff Schultz and Shaone Morrisonn during this contest. Green took only four shifts in the first period before leaving with an undisclosed injury. Schultz went to the dressing after two shifts in the second and also did not return. To make matters worse, Morrisonn was assessed a ..."
Capitals win, lose Green and Schultz
"Just when it seemed Washington's injury woes couldn't get any worse, they did. With the team already missing two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin, defensemen Mike Green and Jeff Schultz both went down with injuries Friday night at BankAtlantic Center, where the short-handed Capitals gutted out a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Brendan Morrison scored twice, Tyler Sloan and Brian Pothier each tallied once and goaltender José Theodore was occasionally spectacular in making 28 saves to snap Washington's three-game losing streak. But the Capitals' collective health was their biggest concern as the players and coaches headed back home for Saturday night's rematch against Florida at Verizon Center. ..."
Florida Panthers' David Booth to start physical activity soon
"Florida Panthers winger David Booth said Thursday he expects to start exercising in the next day or two, though doctors won't allow him to do anything more strenuous than about 10 minutes on a bike. Booth has been restricted from physical activity since suffering his first-ever concussion Oct. 24 during a game against the Flyers in Philadelphia. He said he has gone for walks and relaxed in the pool. "You start to get anxious when you haven't done anything for so long," Booth said. "This is the longest I've ever gone without doing anything. I don't like it, but it is part of the process and you have to stick with the program." Booth said Thursday he felt much better than the days ..."
McCabe on the brink of milestone
"Panthers' defenseman Bryan McCabe hasn't forgotten how nervous he was before his first NHL game 14 years ago against the Bruins in Boston. "I remember being across from Ray Borque and my legs were shaking during the anthem," said McCabe, who started his career with the Islanders and was in the starting lineup that night. "It was a dream come true." With a laugh, he added, "I think I had probably 10 penalty minutes, too, that game -- minors for tripping and hooking." Friday night, McCabe will play in his 1,000th career game. He'll become the seventh player to do so in a Panthers' sweater and first since Chris Gratton on March 22, 2007. Lyle Odelein, Greg Adams, Kirk Muller, Mike Foligno and ..."
Canes fall to Panthers
"One long streak came to an end Wednesday for the Carolina Hurricanes. But not another streak that has grown much too long for the Hurricanes' liking. The Florida Panthers outlasted the Canes 3-0 on Wednesday night at BankAtlantic Center. Make it 10 straight losses for the Hurricanes, who played without center Eric Staal for the first time since 2004 and whose misery and frustration continues. Steven Reinprecht gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 5:09 of the third when a Cory Stillman shot went off his shin pad and past Canes goaltender Cam Ward. Stillman added a power-play goal with 6:16 to play, and with Tomas Vokoun strong in net with 32 saves, Florida had all it needed. Staal had missed ..."
Fortuitous Panthers benefit from some `lucky' bounces
"When the Panthers put players in front of the net, something good usually happens -- especially when Steven Reinprecht is the one near the crease. Reinprecht scored his team-high ninth goal Wednesday night after a puck ricocheted off him, the fortuitous bounce helping to lift the Panthers to a 3-0 victory over the Hurricanes at BankAtlantic Center. Cory Stillman also scored after deflecting a puck while shielding Carolina goalie Cam Ward."
Horton getting praise for improved performance
"There are plenty of detractors who have been vocal in their belief winger Nathan Horton doesn't play with passion or gives it his all. Those critics have not had much to complain about lately. Horton, 24, is in the midst of one of his most impressive runs in his six seasons with the Panthers. Horton has one goal and six assists in his past four games, including Wednesday's scoreless game against the Hurricanes. Four of those assists have been on goals by linemate Steven Reinprecht. ``As long as you are contributing any way you can, that's the main thing,'' Horton said. ``It's been fun with Reinprecht and [Cory] Stillman. Reinprecht is hot right now, so we have to get him the puck.''"
Vokoun makes 32 saves for second-straight shutout
"There he was, camped out in front of the net, in the perfect place at the right time, as he has been so often the past three weeks. Steven Reinprecht didn't need to move to score the winning goal Wednesday night, just stand there and wait for Cory Stillman's shot to go in off his left shin pad. Reinprecht's goal a little more than five minutes into the third period led to the Panthers' 3-0 win against the Hurricanes at BankAtlantic Center — the third consecutive win for the Panthers and 10th straight loss for their Southeast Division rivals, who haven't won since beating the Panthers on Oct. 9 in Raleigh, N.C. "We found a way to get a win tonight," coach Pete DeBoer said. "It wasn't ..."
Florida Panthers coach shows faith in rookie forward
"Two days removed from his NHL debut, Victor Oreskovich still was as elated to be with the Panthers on Monday as he was when he walked into the visitors' locker room at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Saturday to meet his new teammates. That enthusiasm was further stoked when Oreskovich learned he would play significant minutes his first time out. ``I just came in for the pregame snack and saw my name on the board, penciled in the third line,'' Oreskovich said Monday. The right wing retired from professional hockey in 2007 rather than try out for the Colorado Avalanche, but Panthers coach Pete DeBoer -- who coached Oreskovich during DeBoer's stint as coach for Canada's junior team -- said ..."
Panthers coach hopes turnaround has started
"Things can turn around pretty quickly in hockey, especially early in a season. The Panthers sure hope that's the case for them. Florida, after losing eight of its first 10, has won two consecutive games for the first time this season. The Panthers beat Dallas in a shootout 6-5 on Friday, then turned around and blanked the host Blues 4-0 on Saturday. And with three upcoming divisional games this week (two against Southeast-leading Washington) the Panthers need to keep this up. Coach Pete DeBoer sounded upbeat Sunday and said his team ``was feeling good about itself'' after the wins. DeBoer gave the team Sunday off. They will return to the ice Monday morning. ``We're not going to dig ..."
'Canes can commiserate
"Panthers coach Pete DeBoer and Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice, close friends for many years, exchanged text messages the other day about their early season predicaments. "I think misery loves company," DeBoer said with a laugh before Saturday's 4-0 win in St. Louis, "and neither of us is off to a great start. But the one thing we learned last year when both of us were sitting a long way outside of the playoffs is it's a long year and this is a marathon, not a sprint." The Hurricanes (2-8-3) lost their ninth consecutive game Sunday and are off to their worst start ever. The Panthers, despite back-to-back wins, are 4-7-1. The teams will play Wednesday at BankAtlantic Center. The Panthers, who ..."
Panthers' Vokoun blanks Blues
"As it turns out, Alex Pietrangelo's goal in the third period of the Blues' loss to Dallas on Oct. 24 was memorable for more reasons than one. It was Pietrangelo's first goal in the NHL, and two home games later, it remains the team's last goal at Scottrade Center. The Blues were shut out for the second straight game Saturday, losing 4-0 to the Florida Panthers, and have now gone 123 minutes, 50 seconds without scoring at home. The team has scored only seven goals in six games at Scottrade Center this season, and one was an empty-netter. The Blues registered a season-high 34 shots against Florida, giving them 66 in their last two games, but again they were kept off the board. "Whatever it ..."
Offensive surge boosts Florida Panthers to victory
"Tomas Vokoun was elated at finally winning his first game since a 4-3 victory over Chicago on opening night in Sweden. But he will always remain true as a friend in shutting out the St. Louis Blues 4-0 for his 32nd career shutout and beating his old Nashville netminding partner Chris Mason. ``I can't think of a better friend to have than Chris Mason,'' Vokoun said after stopping 34 shots to end his 0-7-1 slump. ``We were best of friends in Nashville and still are. We talk often . . . and I know our wives talk ever more often, trying to keep one another up to date with what is having with our families. ``He taught me a lot about battling and fighting to be better in goal. And he pushed me ..."
Panthers' Victor Oreskovich caps comeback bid with NHL debut
"Defenseman Keaton Ellerby and right wing Victor Oreskovich arrived in St. Louis from Rochester of the American Hockey League in time to join the Florida Panthers. Ellerby was called up just in case Bryan Allen couldn't play because of injury. Oreskovich, on the other hand, was recalled to replace Michal Repik in the lineup. It was the third game in four nights and the second in a back-to-back situation in their schedule for the Panthers and coach Pete DeBoer wanted at least one fresh body in the lineup. ``Have to go light, go to the go-to guys and Vic is bigger and stronger than Rep [Michal Repik],'' said DeBoer. ``He's a great story, getting his shot playing in his first NHL game. I ..."
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