10 THINGS FROM PANTHERS & LIGHTNING IN ORLANDO

FLORIDA – It was one thing for the Florida Panthers to ring up a 4-0-0 preseason record with wins over Nashville and Dallas this NHL preseason, but it was quite another to go to 5-0-0 Tuesday evening thanks to a convincing, albeit scrappy, 3-2 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in Orlando, FL.

Here are 10 Things we noticed from fight night at Amway Arena:

1 – SILLY SEASON?: A wise man once told me (Dallas Cowboys radio voice Brad Sham) that “preseason games don’t count, but they matter.” He was generally referring to individual performances but in the Panthers’ case, their 5-0-0 exhibition record proves this team means business and is eager to atone for last spring’s first round playoff exit versus these same Lightning. The Panthers are legit Cup contenders.

2 – QUICK STARTS: Don’t let it be said that Panthers coach Joel Quenneville doesn’t have his team ready from opening puck drop. On Friday night at FLA Live Arena, Sasha Barkov scored 1:17 into the Dallas game which set the tone in an eventual 6-3 win. On Tuesday in Orlando, Frank Vatrano scored his fourth of the preseason at the 5:30 mark of the first period to, again, set an early tone. The score ended up flattering the Lightning, who scored on the PP with 1:15 remaining to make it respectable.

3 – FRANK “THE TANK”: Yes, we said Frank Vatrano notched his fourth of the preseason Tuesday when he beat Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy on a goal mouth scramble. The 27-year old from East Longmeadow, MA actually netted a hattrick in the Cats’ 5-4 OT win over Nashville on September 26. Sure to become a fan favourite – if he isn’t already – Vatrano played in all 56 games for Florida last season notching 18-8-26. He’s off to a great start this year, and having a name like a mobster doesn’t hurt.

4 – PLAY IT AGAIN SAM: From the moment Sam Bennett showed up in Sunrise, FL following a trade with the Calgary Flames (April 12), the Holland Landing, ON product has made a big impact. On Tuesday in Orlando, Bennett notched an assist, two fights, and picked up a charging penalty for steamrolling Vasilevskiy which touched off a string of melees. Bennett also spent time on the powerplay with Barkov and Sam Reinhart. On September 26, Bennett scored the OT winner against the Predators. Sometimes people just need a change of scenery.

5 – NHL’S TOP RIVALRY?: Historically the Panthers and Lightning aren’t likely the top rivalry in the NHL but they may currently be. Tuesday’s slugfest showed the world that the NHL’s Sunshine State teams don’t like each other very much, as evidenced by the five fights and just over 100 PIMs doled out. Ironically, not one penalty was handed out in the first period! Super pest Corey Perry seems to be just the catalyst this feud needed to keep burning, as the Lightning newcomer accumulated 9 PIMs including a fight and needless goalie interference penalty in the final minute.

6 – TIPP OF THE CAP: NHL fans will want to get used to the name Owen Tippett, if they haven’t already. The 21-year old from Peterborough, ON scored twice in Tuesday’s third period including the eventual game-winner. He scored a shootout winner against Nashville on Sept. 26. Last season as a 20-year old, Tippett netted 18 points in 45 games and was great in the playoffs. I’m told he’s a “far, far off” relative of the Western Canadian Tippett clan, which includes Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett. They tell me their grandfathers were cousins!

7 – KNIGHT RIDER: In Year 3 of a seven year, $70M contract, it’s reasonable to expect Sergei Bobrovsky will carry the load in goal for the Panthers in 2021-22. However it was 20-year old Spencer Knight who kicked out 28 shots and put up a .933 save percentage in Tuesday’s victory over the Lightning. The hero of the 2021 USA World Junior team went a sparkling 4-0 when called upon last season as a rookie and may get more starts than you think this year. Don’t forget “Bob” was sat down in the playoffs last spring in favour of Chris Driedger, who’s now toiling for the expansion Seattle Kraken.

8 – JUMBO: Joe Thornton has yet to make his Florida Panthers debut, and just returned to practice this week after battling a mild groin strain. The NHL’s 14th all-time leading scorer and four time All Star signed with the Panthers because he felt they represented the best chance for him to win the elusive Stanley Cup. The 42-year old has spent time in practice on a line with Anton Lundell and Maxim Mamin. Jumbo Joe could make his Cats debut Thursday against the Lightning in Tampa.

9 – OLYMPIC HOPEFULS: On Tuesday’s Bally Sports Florida broadcast of the game, the panel highlighted which Panthers may expect to receive an invite to represent their country at the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. Potential Team Canada members are Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart. Finland could display Sasha Barkov and Anton Lundell, Russia may call Sergei Bobrobvsky, Sweden may look at Patric Hornqvist and Gustav Forsling, and the Czech Republic could be interested in Radko Gudas.

10 – GOOD Q: God bless game notes. While perusing the Panthers pregame jottings, we were alerted to the fact Florida’s Joel Quenneville is #2 in all-time NHL coaching wins (962) behind only Scotty Bowman (1,244). Quenneville added 37 in the Covid-shortened season of 2021 as the Panthers finished one point behind Central Division-winning Carolina. Quick math tells you Quenneville is 282 wins behind Bowman, meaning he’d need at least seven 40-win seasons to takeover top spot. It should be pointed out that Bowman has a jaw-dropping nine Stanley Cup wins compared to Q’s Hall of Fame-worthy three with the Chicago Blackhawks.

*The Panthers begin their 28th season on October 14 at FLA Live Arena against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

(Photo: Florida Panthers)