FLA-PHO Rookie Game Recap

HULL, Quebec – The four-team 2001 NHL prospects tournament continued on Friday at the Robert-Guertin Arena just outside of Ottawa with the Phoenix Coyotes defeating the Florida Panthers 4-2. Florida’s record in the tourney dropped to 0-3-0. The Panthers will play in the consolation game at 4:30 PM on Saturday. Florida’s goal scorers on Friday were LW Josh Olson (Florida’s sixth choice in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft) and C Stephen Weiss. Selected in the first round of this year’s NHL Draft (fourth overall), Weiss tied the score at two in the second period on a top right corner power play goal. Weiss was named the Player of the Game for the Panthers. G Davis Parley stopped 24 shots. Phoenix’s final goal was an empty net tally. The Panthers outshot the Coyotes 36-28.

FIRST PERIOD: Florida fired 15 shots on goal and opened a 1-0 lead on Olson’s second goal in as many nights. He was assisted on the power play tally by RW David Morisset and C Mike Green. The Panthers outhsot the Coyotes 15-6 and benefited from five power play opportunities.

SECOND PERIOD: Weiss evened the score and notched his first goal of the tourney with a wrist shot to the top right corner of the net. D Lucas Krajicek and RW Sean O’Connor each assisted on the power play goal. Phoenix scored twice on the power play, connecting for a pair of goals just 0:51 seconds apart. Florida held a 12-10 advantage in shots in the period, and a 27-16 edge for two periods combined. Morisset finished the game with three shots and six hits before being ejected for fighting in the second period.

THIRD PERIOD: Phoenix broke a 2-2 tie on a D Matthew Spiller goal with 7:18 remaining. C Erik Westrum earned his second point of the night with an assist. He tied the score at two with a second period goal. C Jason Jaspers added an empty netter for the Coyotes.

Power Plays – Florida 1-9, Phoenix 2-7

Shots FLA – 36, PHO – 28

Game NotesDave Morrisett led Panthers with 6 Hits and 7 PIM’s

Many thanks to the studious and diligent Panthers PR Staff