Panthers Lose First Game Of Doubleheader

The Florida Panthers played an exhibition preseason doubleheader at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise on Monday against the Nashville Predators. Florida lost the first game 5-3. Neither team scored in the first period. Both teams combined for five goals in the second period. Nashville drew first blood at 2:02 as center Colin Wilson converted on a cross-crease pass by right wing Sergei Kostitsyn during a 5-on-3 power play. Panthers defensemen Dimitri Kulikov tied the game at 10:48 with a power play goal. The Predators regained the lead one minute later with center Chris Mueller's goal followed by a power play goal by defensemen Jonathon Blum at 15:40. Panthers center Mark Cullen put in a goal with 43 seconds left in the period. Florida tied the game at 3-3 at 2:26 of the third period with a goal by right wing Greg Rallo. Nashville broke the tie with center Jani Lajunen scoring a goal at 16:49. Predators left wing Kyle Wilson capped the victory with 52 seconds left. It's believed to be the first preseaon doubleheader in NHL history. The New York Rangers and the New York Americans occasionally played regular season doubleheaders at Madison Square Garden from 1926 until 1942. Also the Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Maroons played regular season doubleheaders at the Montreal Forum from 1926 to 1938.