Panthers Begin 2012 With Loss

The Florida Panthers played their first game of 2012 and hoped they wouldn't be swept in the season-series against the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. That did not happen as the Panthers lost in overtime 3-2. Marcel Goc returned to the lineup after 22 games and gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 4:16 of the first period. Following a loose puck in the Panthers zone, Goc and Mikael Samuelson came up with a two-on-one breakaway and pulled off a give-and-go in the Rangers zone prior to the goal. Scott Clemmensen made a sprawling save as Mike Rupp tried to backhand a shot into an open net at 6:51. Anton Stralman scored a goal at 17:44 from the top right circle from a Panthers turnover to tie the game 1-1. Neither team scored in the second period. Florida was called for too many men on the ice early in the third period. They paid the price as New York scored on the power play as the slap shot from left point deflected off Panthers defender Mike Weaver and Ryan Callahan into the net at 4:24. Just 36 seconds later, Mike Santorelli fired a high wrist shot from the right circle over the left arm of Martin Biron to even it 2-2. It was his fifth goal of the season. At 3:29 in overtime, Derek Stepan made a rush up the ice through the neutral zone, dropped a pass behind to Marian Gaborik at the top of zone and he fired a slap shot by Clemmensen for a Rangers win. The Panthers stay in the New York metropolitan area and face the New Jersey Devils on Friday.