A Florida Panthers newcomer is making an early impact. A career milestone came with it
Trailing by a goal early on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers forward Colin White found his way to the slot after an offensive zone faceoff. Anton Lundell scooped up the loose puck behind the net and sent a pass to Eetu Luostarinen, who quickly fed it to White.
White then ripped a one-timer that got past Eric Comrie, his first with the Panthers and the 100th point of his NHL career.
“It was awesome,” White said during an intermission interview on Bally Sports Florida. “It’s a special feeling. It was a great play by Lousty. Was able to get a puck on net and it felt nice.”
White, a 25-year-old forward who played the entirety of his career with the Ottawa Senators before signing a one-year deal with the Panthers this offseason, said he didn’t realize he had hit the milestone until after the period ended. Saturday was White’s 226th NHL game. He now had 37 goals and 63 assists in his career, including two points (one goal, one assist) in his first two games with the Panthers.
“It’s nice to get,” White said.
White looks to continue his early success as the Panthers cap their three-game road trip to start the season Monday night against the Boston Bruins in a game featuring two teams that have started the season 2-0-0. Florida won its first two games 3-1 at the New York Islanders and 4-3 against the Sabres. Boston beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on the road and the Arizona Coyotes 6-3 at home.
White, a Boston native, told reporters pregame Monday that he will have about 20 friends and family at the Bruins game.
“They’ll all be sitting in different areas,” he said. “After the game, I’ll have a lot of people to see.”
Before that, he looks to once again make an impact on the ice. White has primarily been the right wing on the Panthers’ third line that also includes Luostarinen at left wing and Lundell at center. That line has been on the ice for two of the Panthers’ five even-strength goals entering Monday. When those three are on the ice together, the Panthers have had a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal, an 8-6 edge in scoring chances and have not allowed the opposition to score.
“Colin’s got two guys that can skate and make plays and defend,” coach Paul Maurice said recently. “He can think and he can move pucks and find holes, which was the goal. The other two guys are forechecking and he finds the right role, it’s in the back of the net.”
White added: “We’ve been playing great together. They’re a lot of fun to play with. For us as a line, we’ve got to keep it up and good things will come with that.”
▪ Sergei Bobrovsky is starting in goal for the Panthers on Monday. Bobrovsky saved 32 of 33 shots against him in Florida’s season-opening win against the Islanders.
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