Sam Hitchcock: Lightning Squeak By Panthers in Opener

Gritty!

It sucks seeing all this great games and Tampa dont play again until thursday. The Panthers game didnt really do much for me

TB seemed to pass up several glorious chances on their PP, on tv looked like a sure goal was coming then they'd make one more pass. Fortunate bounces led to the tying SH goal, and the shootout winner was a little lucky, too. The ice reportedly was crappy...TB kept trying the pretty, pinpoint plays while FL seemed to adapt and play a simpler, straight ahead game.
Vasilevskii was unreal, as he almost always seems to be against FL. Probably should've been named for all three stars afterwards.
Panthers seem to have picked up where they left off last season, but already Lu is hurt...
George Richards reports Lu out 2-4 weeks, mcl sprain.
Looked like it could've been worse than that.

That looked like Game 8 of the eastern conference finals.

Stamkos looked unconditioned
Kucherov kept whiffing on shots
Coburn and Stralman looked slow
Point and Gourde were blazing fast
Hedman and McDonagh were dominate
Girardi was punishing and didn't get beat
Vasi was Vezina-like

Definitely room for improvement. Excited hockey is back!