For months, Panthers coach Kevin Dineen rapped his knuckles on a wood table whenever the health of his defense was brought up.
The mind combs back across the decades, across the map of our big teams, looking for an intersection such as the one we are approaching. Looking for a precedent. For a time like this.
The Panthers took charge with three second-period goals to beat the Islanders and take a four-point lead in the Southeast Division.
Florida, which had won just three of its previous 16 road games, got it done in New Jersey, led by Scott Clemmensen’s 27 saves.
When the Panthers signed Mike Santorelli to a one-year contract in the summer of 2010, no one was sure what to expect. The center was coming off a season in which he managed to play only 25 games for the Nashville Predators before getting shipped to the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.
Sean Bergenheim and Mike Santorelli scored in the second as Florida beat Los Angeles on home ice for the first time since 2001.
Like most teams in the National Hockey League, the Panthers are more comfortable playing with the lead and have been very successful in games in which they have scored first.
Alex Ovechkin scored two goals, and former Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun made 42 saves as the Panthers fell out of first in the Southeast.
With a loss pushing the Panthers from third in the Eastern Conference to ninth, each game takes on added importance.
The Panthers have struggled to a 2-5-1 record in games following one the previous day, but some teams are doing worse in the quick turnaround.
Several breakdowns were costly for the Panthers, coach Kevin Dineen said after a loss that dropped their division lead to one point.
Sean Bergenheim scored the winning goal as the first-place Panthers hiked their lead over the Capitals to three points.
Injury-plagued Mikael Samuelsson is healthy again, and has four goals and three assists in his first 10 games back in the Panthers’ lineup.
The Panthers outlasted the Capitals on Wednesday night to regain sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division.
Jose Theodore is still the No. 1 goalie, but more is expected.
Fresh off their vacations that stretched from British Columbia all the way to Key West, the Panthers were back to work on Monday.
The BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise needs to be upgraded, the organization says. County commissioners are to vote Tuesday on whether to approve a $7.7 million loan for the work.
County commissioners approved the loan, intended for renovations at the BankAtlantic Center, despite concerns that profit-sharing from hockey games and other events never met expectations.
In a typically wide-open All-Star Game, Marion Gaborik had three goals and was MVP in an entertaining contest.
The Panthers’ Brian Campbell got his start in Ottawa and is back to celebrate his rise to the top of his profession.
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