Magdalena Curbelo could barely contain her son, Matteo's, excitement Saturday night at BankAtlantic Center.

Wearing his Panthers jersey and ringing his cowbell, Matteo ran back and forth, eager to get to his seat. At 2-years-old, Curbelo's son is part of the team's passionate fan base.

''He's been coming to the games practically since he was born,'' Curbelo said.

'His first word was `goal.' ''

In light of the growing popularity of the cowbells that fans began bringing to games last season, the Panthers gave the first 15,000 in attendance Saturday night promotional cowbells.

Curbelo was one of the many spectators who rang her's proudly in the arena concourse before the first puck was dropped.

''I'm very much looking forward to this season,'' said Curbelo, who became a Panthers season-ticket holder in 2003. ``I think the team's going to develop chemistry quickly with the new players, and our coach's record speaks for itself.''

The team also unveiled a new mascot named ''Mad Cow,'' in honor of the cowbells, during the first intermission. A person in an eight-foot tall inflatable cow suit danced for a couple of minutes on the ice as the fans cheered.

When speaking about the Panthers, Curbelo and other fans expressed cautious optimism for the team's season given the hiring of coach Pete DeBoer and the personnel moves made in the offseason to improve the defense.

''I'm cautiously optimistic right now,'' said Eric Seiden, a Miami resident and season-ticket holder since the Panthers' inaugural season in 1993-94. ``I like the fact that we have a coach that is a real motivator. Jacques Martin would just sit there sometimes. You need a coach that can get fired up when things are going bad. I think [DeBoer] is going to be that guy.''

Some Panthers fans still missed longtime forward Olli Jokinen.

Jokinen, who spent eight seasons with the Panthers, was traded to Phoenix in a deal that brought starting defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton to Florida.

''Bring Olli back,'' said Alex Silver, 10, who attended the game with his father, Don, and plays in a youth hockey league at Pines Ice Rink.

Don Silver, who works in public relations at Plantation-based Boardroom Communications, was a little less upset about the move.

''We're not happy Olli's gone by any means, but the truth is the team needed to improve its defense, which was not up to par the past few years,'' Don Silver said.

Although the crowd gave the loudest ovations during pregame introductions to goalie Tomas Vokoun, center Nathan Horton and left wing David Booth, fans such as Ron McElhone and his son, Ron Jr., were well-versed on the team's newcomers.

''We gave up the most shots in the league last year, but guys like Ballard have a reputation of being good defenders,'' the elder McElhone said.

``If our young players step up, I think we'll have a good chance to get back to the playoffs.''

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