Hurricanes Defeat Panthers

     The Florida Panthers had their preseason home opener and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 at FLA Live Arena on Thursday night. Both clubs will face each other in Raleigh on Saturday unless the possible effects of Hurricane Ian may postpone the contest. 

     In the first period, Carolina took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal with 7:45 left. Justin Robidas pushed the puck up from the right wing to Dylan Coghlan on the right point. His slap shot was redirected in by Stefan Noesen in the slot area. 

     It became 2-0 for the Hurricanes with 4:10 remaining in the first on a shorthanded goal. Derek Stepan got to the loose puck and advanced it through the neutral zone. He fired a slap shot from the right circle past Sergei Bobrovsky for his first preseason tally. 

     The Canes expanded their lead to a three-goal margin at the 2:22 mark of the second period. Jamieson Rees made a square pass in the high slot and Joseph LeBate snapped a shot from the inner left circle. It was saved and Robidas pounced on the rebound for the score from the low left circle. 

     Florida cut it to 3-1 just over one minute later at 3:25 to make it 3-1. Anton Lundell sent a pass from the right side to Gustav Forsling above the left circle. His shot was deflected by a Hurricanes defenders and Sam Bennett put in a wrist shot from below the left circle by Antti Raanta.

     Carolina moved ahead 4-1 on another power-play tally. Maxime Lejoie released a shot from the left circle and Vasilliy Ponomarov tipped in the puck from the right edge of the crease. 

     The Hurricanes struck early in the third period for a 5-1 lead as Jack Drury redirected the puck in from the top of the crease The Panthers closed it to 5-2 with 8:33 to go in the third on a goal by Brandon Montour.