The Panthers improved to 3-0 in Ontario this season and caused Toronto fans to turn against their own team.
Goalie Tomas Vokoun didn't have to work real hard in the early stages of a 4-2 victory over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday because the players in front of him made sure nothing got through. It took Toronto more than 11 minutes to register its first shot. Florida blocked 20 shots in the game.
Florida prospect Jacob Markstrom was one of the top players at the recently completed World Junior hockey tournament in Ottawa. The Swedish goalie led his squad into the finals, where it lost 5-1 to Canada on Monday.
Panthers defenseman Bryan McCabe was back on the Air Canada Center ice Monday for the first time since the Maple Leafs traded him to Florida for Mike Van Ryn. McCabe wasn't the most popular Leafs player in history, and he expects to hear a few boos during Tuesday's game. Aside from that, he was happy to be back in Toronto.
Florida got a point when Jassen Cullimore and Radek Dvorak scored third-period goals to force overtime.
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby told reporters after Saturday's game that he and Brett McLean talked about fighting during the first period and that McLean had agreed to it.
The Panthers routed the reeling Penguins, whose star Sidney Crosby boiled over and got into the second fight of his career.
Coach Pete DeBoer met with goalies Tomas Vokoun and Craig Anderson to talk about his decision to pull his starter in three of the past four games. After Wednesday's loss against the New York Islanders, Vokoun spoke about his displeasure with the recent developments.
The Panthers might open the 2009-10 regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks in Prague in the Czech Republic.
The Panthers had a lot of problems with Sidney Crosby on Saturday afternoon, but not for the usual reasons ''Sid the Kid'' has been a pain for teams since coming into the league. No, Crosby was held off the score sheet in Florida's romp at the Igloo but was active in the fighting game, taking on Gregory Campbell before jumping Brett McLean in the face off circle.
With his goal-scoring ability and work ethic, Panthers left wing David Booth has turned into a fan favorite.
Panthers defenseman Jassen Cullimore is back in the lineup after missing three games with a deep bruise in his left hand. The injury is on a spot that Cullimore feels throughout the game. Because Cullimore is a left-handed shot, the injury hits right where he controls his stick.
The Panthers started out strongly, but the New York Islanders took control by scoring three times in the second period.
Coach Pete DeBoer basically said after the game that the goalie job was open and he was waiting for someone to ''pick up the ball and run with it.'' Tomas Vokoun started Wednesday but was replaced after two periods by Craig Anderson.
Panthers coach Pete DeBoer said he would wait until Wednesday to announce the starting goaltender for the New Year's Eve matinee against the Islanders.
Montreal treated a large number of Canadiens fans to a dominating victory over the Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.
When they traded Olli Jokinen (who led the team in scoring for five seasons) in the offseason, the Panthers knew scoring would have to, as coach Pete DeBoer said, ``come by committee.''
Coach Peter DeBoer will switch back to Craig Anderson as his starting goalie Monday when the Panthers face Montreal. Anderson leads the league with a .941 save percentage and played the final period and the shootout in the first of the Panthers' back-to-back losses to Tampa Bay.
After back-to-back losses to Tampa Bay, Florida needs a win Monday to restore confidence and keep itself in the playoff race.
Florida rallied from a 3-1 deficit, but ultimately lost to Southeast Division rival Tampa Bay for the second night in a row.
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