More of the Same!!

Well somethings just don’t change.  The Florida Panthers lost in a shootout yesterday to a “club” team 3-2.  Scoring in regulation for Florida were Nathan Horton and Mike Duco (fighting for a roster spot).  In addition, goalie Scott Clemmensen turned away 27 shots.  Give them a break I suppose as they were playing on an international ice surface in unfamiliar territory.  However, let it be known that the last time that an NHL team lost to a “club” team during exhibition was in 1991 when the Quebec Nordiques lost to Moscow Dynamo.

In the shootout Panther chances were foiled on shots by Michael Frolik, Ville Koistenenenenenenen (sorry, we get a kick out of that) and Stephen Reinprecht, who hit the post.  The game winner was scored by former Colorado Avalanche forward Ville Niemenen.  Koistenenenenenen had over 60 friends and family in attendance for him and said that it would have been nice if he could have scored the winner.

Head Coach Peter DeBoer made the comment that the team from Tampere “played hard and really pushed us”.  He added, “they played desperate and we didn’t match their desperation and that’s why we lost.  But it was a good experience for us and a good lesson heading into the regular season”.  I would like to think that there are no more lessons to be learned and only better results to be expected.  I realize as well it’s exhibition, but you want to play better. 

Scratched from this contest were Keith Ballard, Gregory Campbell, Jeffe Taffe, and goaltender Alexander Salak.  The Panthers began the game with the Sunrise Express line of Weiss-Horton-Booth. The other lines were Reinprecht-Stillman-Frolik, Duco-Matthias-Repik and Kreps-Dvorak-Olesz.  Although little Stevie (Weiss) left the game during the second period with a yeast infection slight groin tweak.  It was precautionary.

The Panthers won’t practice today, getting a day off, but will be back on the ice Wednesday when they take on local Helsinki team Jokerit at Hartwall Arena in a second exhibition contest before opening up the season Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Dmitry Kulikov situation still remains unresolved.  The Panthers must sign him today or he’s on his way back to Quebec.  Assistant General Manager Randy Sexton is still hoping a deal can be worked out.

Last but not least, go check out onfrozenpond.  Miami Herald and Florida Panther beat writer George Richards has been doing a bang up job with video and comments from the trip.  I would love to provide the same coverage, however I wouldn’t spend the money on these bums be able to get away and would rather save my bucks for my season tickets.  Or rotating my tires.

Thanks for reading.