The Florida Panthers appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years and lost to the New York Islanders 5-4 in Game 1 of the first round at BB&T Center on Thursday night. Both clubs, who have not won a playoff series in two decades, will tangle again on Friday night in Game 2.
Both teams combined for four goals during the first period. Florida got on the scoreboard first as they moved ahead 1-0 at 1:55. Dmitry Kulikov sent a long lead pass from his own zone to Jiri Hudler at the Islanders line. He skated in on a two-on-one and then fed a cross-ice pass to Teddy Purcell in the low slot for a one-time snap shot by Thomas Greiss.
New York responded quickly after they killed off the Panthers first power play of the contest and tied it at 6:39. Ryan Strome stole the puck at the red line and found Brock Nelson speeding up the middle of the ice. He skated in alone through the slot and scored on a high snap shot against Roberto Luongo.
The Panthers powered through as they scored on their second power-play opportunity at 13:51. Brian Campbell fired a slapshot from the top of the zone which was redirected by Jussi Jokinen in the low slot for a 2-1 lead.
The Islanders tied the game 2-2 with 3:14 left in the first on their first power play. John Tavares entered the zone and faked a shot from the high slot. He backhanded to Frans Nielsen in the left circle and he roofed a wrist shot.
In the second period, the Cats kept the pressure on and regained the lead 3-2 at 1:31. Nick Bjugstad won a face-off in the right circle and Jokinen passed it back to Alex Petrovic on the right point. His slapshot went wide right of the cage and bounced off the back wall then Reilly Smith put in the puck from the left of the crease.
The Isles matched their opponent for the third consecutive time and pulled even at 3-3 with 21.8 seconds left in the second. There was a loose puck deep in the Florida end that was recovered by Kyle Okposo in the low right circle. He sent a cross-ice pass to Tavares in the low left circle and he put in a tally with a snap shot.
New York finally took their first lead of the contest 4-3 at 2:33 of the third period. Campbell carried the puck around his own net and had it taken away by Tavares. He placed a short pass to Okposo who scored from the slot area.
They scored their third straight unanswered goal at 6:01. Prince raced through the right circle and centered the puck in front. Strome trailed the play and scored from the slot to give the Islanders a two-goal margin 5-3.
Florida recovered at 6:56 and cut the deficit to 5-4. Jokinen was on the left point and put a lead pass to Smith who blasted a slapshot from the left circle for his second goal of the game.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Chris Moore NHL Playoff Studio Host
Original Florida Panthers radio voice Chris Moore will co-host a two-hour studio show alongside Boomer Esiason on Sports Radio 66 WFAN-AM in New York City. It will occur on Sunday night prior to Game 3 of the first round series between the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers at Barclays Center.
Moore, an Ithaca College grad, was the radio play-by-play announcer for the Florida Panthers during their first six years as an NHL franchise from 1993-94 until 1998-99. He held that post when the Panthers won the Eastern Conference title back in 1995-96. Moore was the radio voice of the New Jersey Devils for five seasons prior to arriving in South Florida.
Moore, an Ithaca College grad, was the radio play-by-play announcer for the Florida Panthers during their first six years as an NHL franchise from 1993-94 until 1998-99. He held that post when the Panthers won the Eastern Conference title back in 1995-96. Moore was the radio voice of the New Jersey Devils for five seasons prior to arriving in South Florida.
Heat Clinch Southeast Division
The Miami Heat clinched the Southeast Division title on Wednesday night, even though they blew a big lead and lost to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. It was their fifth Southeast Division championship in the last six years and their 12th overall division title in the last 20 seasons.
The Heat wrapped up the number three seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Charlotte Hornets in the first round. They played Charlotte in the NBA Playoffs in 2013-14 when they were known as the Bobcats.
The Heat wrapped up the number three seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Charlotte Hornets in the first round. They played Charlotte in the NBA Playoffs in 2013-14 when they were known as the Bobcats.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Mets Settle Marlins
The Miami Marlins failed to sweep the New York Mets for the first time in Citi Field since 2009 as they lost 2-1 on Wednesday. The Fish completed their five-game road trip with a 3-2 record.
It was not until the seventh inning when one of the clubs scored. Miami(3-4) left the bases loaded with none out at the top of the frame as reliever Jerry Blevins pitched the last three outs. New York(3-5) capitalized on the situation in the bottom of the seventh against Dustin McGowan.
Wilmer Flores began with a base hit to center field and moved to third on a single to right field by Asdrubal Cabrera. After Juan Lagares grounded out to the pitcher, Kevin Plawecki bashed a single into left field to drive in Flores and Cabrera for a Mets 2-0 lead.
In the eighth inning, Christian Yelich picked up a one-out single into center field off Blevins. Jeurys Familia entered the game for the Mets to pitch and Giancarlo Stanton flied out to center. Martin Prado singled to left field then Justin Bour hit an opposite-field single into left and Yelich scored to make it 2-1.
It was not until the seventh inning when one of the clubs scored. Miami(3-4) left the bases loaded with none out at the top of the frame as reliever Jerry Blevins pitched the last three outs. New York(3-5) capitalized on the situation in the bottom of the seventh against Dustin McGowan.
Wilmer Flores began with a base hit to center field and moved to third on a single to right field by Asdrubal Cabrera. After Juan Lagares grounded out to the pitcher, Kevin Plawecki bashed a single into left field to drive in Flores and Cabrera for a Mets 2-0 lead.
In the eighth inning, Christian Yelich picked up a one-out single into center field off Blevins. Jeurys Familia entered the game for the Mets to pitch and Giancarlo Stanton flied out to center. Martin Prado singled to left field then Justin Bour hit an opposite-field single into left and Yelich scored to make it 2-1.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Marlins Get By Mets
The Miami Marlins edged the New York Mets 2-1 on Tuesday night at Citi Field. Ichiro Suzuki passed Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds for 33rd place all-time in base hits when he singled in the seventh inning during a pinch-hit situation.
New York(2-5) was only able to score against Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez and that happened in the first inning. Curtis Granderson led off with a double to right field and David Wright followed with a walk. After Yoenis Cespedes struck out, Lucas Duda singled on a line drive to right-center field for Granderson to score for a Mets 1-0 lead. Fernandez pitched five innings, allowed one run on three hits and struck out five batters.
Miami(3-3) tied the contest with a late rally in the top of the fourth against Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard. Giancarlo Stanton got on base with a fielders choice to make it two out and he advanced to second on a base hit to left field by Justin Boar. Derek Dietrich knocked in Stanton with a base hit into right field. Syndergaard completed seven innings as he struck out 12 and gave up one run on seven hits.
The Marlins took their only lead of the game in the eighth inning. Jim Henderson was on the mound and faced Dee Gordon to begin the frame. Gordon prolonged a 16-pitch at-bat when he finally put the ball in play on a base hit into shallow left field. He stole his second base of the year then Marcell Ozuna popped out to second. Christian Yelich and Stanton walked to load the bases then the Mets brought in Jerry Blevins to relieve for Henderson. Pnich-hitter Martin Prado was able to drive Gordon in on a sacrifice fly to center field for the winning run.
New York(2-5) was only able to score against Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez and that happened in the first inning. Curtis Granderson led off with a double to right field and David Wright followed with a walk. After Yoenis Cespedes struck out, Lucas Duda singled on a line drive to right-center field for Granderson to score for a Mets 1-0 lead. Fernandez pitched five innings, allowed one run on three hits and struck out five batters.
Miami(3-3) tied the contest with a late rally in the top of the fourth against Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard. Giancarlo Stanton got on base with a fielders choice to make it two out and he advanced to second on a base hit to left field by Justin Boar. Derek Dietrich knocked in Stanton with a base hit into right field. Syndergaard completed seven innings as he struck out 12 and gave up one run on seven hits.
The Marlins took their only lead of the game in the eighth inning. Jim Henderson was on the mound and faced Dee Gordon to begin the frame. Gordon prolonged a 16-pitch at-bat when he finally put the ball in play on a base hit into shallow left field. He stole his second base of the year then Marcell Ozuna popped out to second. Christian Yelich and Stanton walked to load the bases then the Mets brought in Jerry Blevins to relieve for Henderson. Pnich-hitter Martin Prado was able to drive Gordon in on a sacrifice fly to center field for the winning run.
Miami Ratings March 2016
790 The Ticket WAXY-AM was on top of the sports format radio stations in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale region by themselves for the second consecutive month. All three competitors in the market did not rise or fall as WQAM finished a close second while WINZ ended up a distant third.
The Ticket had their ratings stay the same as they were at a 1.0 in the month. It has been a transition for them as Eric Reed left the early afternoon show at the start of the ratings period. Brendan Tobin has filled in well on the morning show as a co-host with Jonathan Zaslow and Brett Romberg since the departure of Joy Taylor. The Miami Heat contended for a playoff spot during the monthly period.
Miami Sports Radio 560 WQAM-AM was in second place as they remained at a 0.9 again for the third consecutive month. The Florida Panthers battled for the division title while the University of Miami basketball team finished with an underachieving performance to end their season.
Miami Sports 940 WINZ-AM stayed flat at a 0.2 in the month of March. It was the final ratings period for their afternoon show The Finsiders hosted by Greg Likens. The program was being replaced by a taped delay The Herd with Colin Cowherd from Fox Sports Radio. The station also broadcast spring training games of the Miami Marlins.
The Ticket had their ratings stay the same as they were at a 1.0 in the month. It has been a transition for them as Eric Reed left the early afternoon show at the start of the ratings period. Brendan Tobin has filled in well on the morning show as a co-host with Jonathan Zaslow and Brett Romberg since the departure of Joy Taylor. The Miami Heat contended for a playoff spot during the monthly period.
Miami Sports Radio 560 WQAM-AM was in second place as they remained at a 0.9 again for the third consecutive month. The Florida Panthers battled for the division title while the University of Miami basketball team finished with an underachieving performance to end their season.
Miami Sports 940 WINZ-AM stayed flat at a 0.2 in the month of March. It was the final ratings period for their afternoon show The Finsiders hosted by Greg Likens. The program was being replaced by a taped delay The Herd with Colin Cowherd from Fox Sports Radio. The station also broadcast spring training games of the Miami Marlins.
Marlins Slam Mets
The Miami Marlins continued their road trip through the east coast and hammered the defending National League champion New York Mets 10-3 on Monday night at Citi Field. The Fish rolled up seven runs during the second inning and delivered a statement in the contest.
The second inning long rally began for Miami(2-3) against New York(2-4) starting pitcher Steven Matz as they loaded the bases with walks by Martin Prado and Chris Johnson then a base hit by J.T. Realmuto. Adeiny Hechavarria singled into left field to score Prado and Johnson for a 2-0 lead.
After a Jarred Cosart sacrifice bunt, Dee Gordon knocked in Realmuto with an infield hit and later stole second and compiled his first stolen base of the season for the National League leader in steals last season. Two batters later, Christian Yelich smashed a line drive to center field as Hechavarria and Gordon scored. Giancarlo Stanton came up and blasted a two-run homer to left-center field for his second home run of the season and a Marlins 7-0 lead.
The second inning long rally began for Miami(2-3) against New York(2-4) starting pitcher Steven Matz as they loaded the bases with walks by Martin Prado and Chris Johnson then a base hit by J.T. Realmuto. Adeiny Hechavarria singled into left field to score Prado and Johnson for a 2-0 lead.
After a Jarred Cosart sacrifice bunt, Dee Gordon knocked in Realmuto with an infield hit and later stole second and compiled his first stolen base of the season for the National League leader in steals last season. Two batters later, Christian Yelich smashed a line drive to center field as Hechavarria and Gordon scored. Giancarlo Stanton came up and blasted a two-run homer to left-center field for his second home run of the season and a Marlins 7-0 lead.
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