Panthers/Senators Rookie Tournament Game 1

PANTHERS PROSPECTS FALL 4-2 IN TOURNEY OPENER

HULL, Quebec – The four-team 2000 NHL prospects tournament got underway with a pair of games today at Robert Guertin Arena. The Florida Panthers were defeated by the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in the late game. Michel Periard and Rod Sarich led the Panthers with a goal each, while Ryan Jardine recorded seven shots to lead all players. Florida’s Morgan McCormick posted 14 penalty minutes, which included a pair of fighting majors. The Panthers outshot Ottawa 33-24.

FIRST PERIOD: Sarich opened the scoring with a wrist shot just 3:21 into the contest. The 19-year-old defenseman was assisted on the play by Serge Payer and McCormick. Sarich, who was a 1999 draft pick of the Panthers (109th overall), played for Calgary (WHL) last season. The Panthers lead was short-lived as the Senators’ Chris Kelly connected on the power play at the 4:40 mark. Ottawa took a 2-1 advantage with an even-strength tally at 12:45 by Tim Wolfe. The Panthers out-shot the Senators 15-13 in the opening frame. Florida failed to score in its only power play chance in the first period. McCormick registered 9 penalty minutes, including a 5-minute major for fighting. Eric Godard also picked up a 5 minute major for fighting.

SECOND PERIOD: Ottawa’s Jan Jas and Alexandre Giroux scored goals just 1:07 apart (13:30 and 14:37) to increase the Senators’ lead to 4-1. Florida’s Periard, who posted 100 points (25-75-100) last season with Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, pulled the Panthers within two at the 15:20 mark. Periard flipped a wrist shot through a crowd of players in front. Mike Cirillo earned an assist on the play. McCormick was given an automatic ejection at 1:58 of the period following his second fight of the game. Florida out-shot Ottawa 9-7 in the second period.

THIRD PERIOD: Florida out-shot Ottawa 9-4 in the third period, but neither team could score in the final frame, as the Senators captured a 4-2 victory. Ottawa goaltender Mathieu Chouinard stopped 31 of 33 Panther shots for the win. Florida’s Alex Auld made 20 saves on 24 shots.

Shots     1     2     3     T
Florida  15	9     9    33
Ottawa   13     7     4    24

Goals     1     2     3     F
Florida   1     1     0     2
Ottawa    2     2     0     4

Power Plays – Florida 0-2, Ottawa 1-4.

Panther Notes: Right wing Denis Shvidki traveled back to Florida today to receive treatment on a sprained ankle. The 1999 first-round draft pick (12th overall) injured the ankle during off-season training.

While I personally wish I was able to make the journey from sunny South Florida to watch hockey at the end of summer, My budget and schedule do not allow me the luxury that some of the luckier Canadians get….the ability to see hockey practically year round. So I must give many thanks go to the Panther Communications Dept for their full work on this game summary.

I hope to be able to provide all the summaries for the Panther rookie and pre-season games coming up, and if you are a fan of the opposing team, rest assured you will get some in-depth information with a Panther twist.

As always, feel free to write me with any comments or post on the Panthers message board.

-Mark Fischel