Panthers At Blue Jackets

     The Florida Panthers challenge the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night. The Panthers are at the conclusion of a four-game road trip. 

     It is the Blue Jackets home opener and they will have a special pregame ceremony. There will be a remembrance of Columbus center Johnny Gaudreau, who lost his life during the summer along with his brother Matthew while bicycling in southern New Jersey and getting hit by a car.  Florida Panthers forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett were teammates of Gaudreau when they played together with the Calgary Flames. 

Miami Norland Edges American Heritage

     The Miami Norland Vikings slipped by the American Heritage Patriots 32-27 on Monday night in a District 15-4A clash. This was a rescheduled game that was postponed on Saturday. 

     American Heritage(3-4, 1-1) rushed out to a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter. The Vikings controlled the second quarter and had a 20-10 halftime lead. The Patriots got 10 points during the third quarter and tied it up 20-20. Miami Norland(6-1, 2-0) outscored the Pats 12-7 in the final quarter for the 32-27 victory. 

     The Vikings face the Miami Central Rockets at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami later this week. The Patriots host the Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks in Plantation on Friday.  

James Reimer Claimed By Ducks

     The Anaheim Ducks claimed goalie James Reimer from the Buffalo Sabres last week. It happened one day before the start of the 2024-25 NHL season. 

     Reimer was once was the Florida Panthers for three seasons from 2016-17 until 2018-19. He had a 53-42-16 record with a 2.85 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage with the Panthers in 123 contests.

Panthers Hold Off Bruins

     The Florida Panthers handled the Boston Bruins 4-3 at TD Garden on Monday. It was the second time both teams faced each other in the last seven days. Both clubs met for the season opener last Tuesday in Sunrise when Florida raised their 2023-24 Stanely Cup championship banner. 

     The Panthers conclude their four-game road swing tomorrow at the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Bruins finished off a three-game homestand and now go on a three-game road trip. 

     Boston(2-2-0) broke out to a 1-0 lead at the 4:54 mark of the first period. Mason Lohrei slid a pass from the top left circle and Mark Kastelic shot the puck from the top of the zone. John Beecher deflected it in from the top of the crease by Sergei Bobrovsky for his first tally this year. 

     Florida(2-2-0) tied the contest up 1-1 at 6:37. Anton Lundell picked up an unassisted goal when he stuffed a shot from the right of the crease past Jeremy Swayman. 

     The Cats got in front 2-1 on a power-play goal with 8:09 remaining in the first. Adam Boqvist backhanded the puck from the left point. Sam Reinhart snapped a shot from the inner left circle for his second of the season. 

     There were four goals during the second period. The B's evened it up 2-2 at the 5:08 mark when Brandon Carlo released a snap shot from the top right circle. 

     The Panthers reclaimed the lead 3-2 on a shorthanded goal at 9:39. Reinhart collected his second goal of the game and his third goal of the year. He skated down the left side of the ice and placed a forehand shot from the left of the crease. 

     It became 4-2 for Florida with 7:01 to go in the period. Gustav Forsling backhanded a clearing pass from his own zone. Lundell raced down the right side and scored on a wrist shot from the inner right circle for his second tally of the contest. 

     The Bruins cut the deficit to 4-3 with 5:53 left in the second. Lohrei chalked up his first goal this season when he faked a shot from the left point and then put in a wrist shot from the left-circle dot. Kastelic and Beecher were credited with assists on the play. 

Riley Sheahan Retires

     Former Florida Panthers center Riley Sheahan announced his retirement. He played most of his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings. 

     He was traded along with Derick Brassard to Florida during the 2018-19 season from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann. Sheahan ended up with two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 33 games with the Panthers. 

Orioles Fire Fredi Gonzalez

     The Baltimore Orioles have let go bench coach Fredi Gonzalez. He just finished off his fifth season on their coaching staff. 

     Gonzalez had several stints with the Marlins organization. He was the third base coach of the Florida Marlins from 1999 to 2001. Gonzalez became the Marlins manager from 2007 to 2010. He came back to the Miami Marlins as their third base coach from 2017 to 2019.

More Marlins Free Agents

     More Miami Marlins players declared for free agency from the minor leagues or under five years of service in the majors over the past couple of days. They include outfielder Nick Gordon and Jonathan Bermudez. 

     Gordon played 95 games with the Marlins this season and compiled eight home runs, 32 runs batted in along with a .227 batting average. Bermudez had a 0-1 record with an 8.10 earned run average in three contests during his rookie year.