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BY MICHAEL RUSSO
Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/hockey/panthers/sfl-pangrades0408.story
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February 22, 2001
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A: A European who has been discussed as at least a Top 5 player in his league, leads the league in goals and his game is all about skill. The Panthers would like to see him gain a taste -- or at least a little tolerance -- for the grittier side of the game.
Q: ``Who is Pavel Bure?''
Oh, sorry. Try again.
Q: ``Who is Kristian Huselius?''
There's a shot through the five hole.
Vastra Frolunda left wing Huselius, the Panthers' second-round 1997 draft pick, leads the Swedish Elite League in goals (29) and points (59), and is second in assists (30) after 45 games. In January, Sweden's largest daily newspaper, Aftonbladet, ranked Huselius as the best player in the Swedish Elite League.
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The question as to who should be the left winger on the No. 1 line has
remained unanswered until recently, however. Murray tried Niedermayer, Adams
and even Ray Whitney. Sutter agreed with the idea that a player with size
and speed who was willing to work in the corners was needed, but instead of
Niedermayer has hit on Marcus Nilson.
It's become a perfect match. Playing his first full NHL season after cameos
the past two years, Nilson has just seven goals and 17 points, but his
intelligence, speed and grit have been a perfect complement to the two
craftsman he plays alongside.
Nilson made a pretty pass to set up Bure from behind the net for one of his
four goals Saturday, then created space for himself Wednesday and made the
play that led to Bure's first goal. He's typically the first forward back on
defense -- a necessity considering Bure's general aversion to that role.
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Florida jumped out to an early lead, needing just 1:48 to get one by Manny Fernandez. The play began at the Minnesota blue line when Robert Svehla hustled back to keep the puck in the zone. His feed to Ray Whitney connected perfectly and then Ray found Rob Niedermayer driving into the high slot. Rob's shot from the left hash marks beat Fernandez cleanly. Minnesota kept the Cats at bay, finally notching the tying goal at 15:25 on a play that looked very similar to the Panthers' goal. Darby Hendrickson hustled into the high slot to bury Gavey's feed from the corner. At the end of one, the teams were knotted at one with the Panthers holding a slight edge in hits, shots and face-offs.
Neither team would score through the second period of play but it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. There were some superb chances at both ends of the ice but Luongo and Fernandez stole the show... Fernandez faced a greater number of shots (16-4) and made clutch saves on Mellanby, Whitney, Nilson, Kozlov and Niedermayer to name a few. While Roberto didn't exactly face a ton of shots, his saves were even more important as two of the four were breakaways. The first was on Wes Walz off a forward feed from Antti Laaksonen from the red line. Luongo had him all the way and then covered up the small rebound. Minutes later, Walz found team mate Marian Gaborik and sent him away from neutral ice. Luongo stacked the pads and made the sliding save to keep the Cats in the game.
The teams played another 9:41 of scoreless hockey before the Cats would get the eventual game-winner... Olli Jokinen carried into the Minnesota zone with Mike Sillinger cruising to his right. Olli's pass was tape-to-tape and Sillinger immediately put the puck on net beating Fernandez. Filip Kuba was shadowing Sillinger but was a non-factor, as he never even got near the puck. In the final minute of play, Roberto Luongo made two "highlight reel" glove saves to deliver the Panthers' victory - each one coming from the point.
In the end, the Panthers edged the visitors in shots 31-20, hits 24-18, face-offs 53%-47% and zone time 26:16-19:57... For just the second time this season, the Cats went without a power play opportunity tonight.
The three stars of the game as selected by Brian Biggane were: Rob Niedermayer (3rd star), Roberto Luongo (2nd star) and Mike Sillinger (1st star).
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The Sabres wasted no time in getting this game started, moving past the Panthers at 3:33 of the opening period. The goal was Chris Gratton's 14th of the season and was unleashed from the top of the face-off circle off a nifty backward pass from Vladimir Tsyplakov. Roberto Luongo rebounded from the early goal to hold the Panthers in the game with Buffalo piling on the pressure through the first half of the period. In the second half, the Panthers poured it on getting some superb chances from Kozlov and Niedermayer in the final minutes, but just nothing that beat the "Dominator".
An entirely opposite scenario took place in the second period with Florida taking the play to their visitors early on. Marcus Nilson knotted the score at one at 9:06 off a textbook give-and-go with Kozlov and Bure. Kozzie carried into the Buffalo zone and dished back to Bure. Pavel let go with a long cross-ice pass that was right on the stick of Nilson who never hesitated. Just past the midway mark, emotions hit the boiling point and after Robert Svehla slid into Hasek in the crease, a melee ensued. In the end, the Panthers received a two-minute power play but lost Ray Whitney for the game with a misconduct call for "third man in". The Sabres controlled the momentum after the scrap and netted the go-ahead tally at 15:01. Luongo was victimized on the score as he was taken out of the play by Bret Hedican who had fallen behind him. Roberto made the initial save on Miroslav Satan but left a wide open net staring at Eric Rasmussen when he could not get back into place. The period ended with two great plays by Barrie and Sillinger but again, there was nothing to show for their efforts...
Enter the third period and a whole new "ball game"... The Panther snowball started at 6:16 on an individual effort by Peter Worrell. After being knocked down behind the Buffalo net, he somehow managed to keep the puck on his stick, got up and tucked it in from an impossible angle off the leg of Hasek. Just over a minute later, Pavel Bure notched his 30th of the season after Marcus Nilson forced a turnover at the red line. Bure's shot from way out may have tipped off the stick of Jason Woolley before beating Hasek. Thirty-five seconds later, Olli Jokinen increased the lead by two, unassisted, after stripping the puck from Dimitri Kalinin along the boards. Pavel Bure was not done yet and netted his 31st at 16:26 to tie the League scoring lead heading into the All-Star break. The goal went five-hole off a breakaway feed by Robert Svehla. Roberto Luongo was stellar in the third halting the Sabres from every direction.
David J. Neal had his work cut out for him in picking tonight's three stars as the possibilities were endless... His choices: Peter Worrell (3rd star), Roberto Luongo (2nd star) and Pavel Bure (1st star).
*****
Coach's Comments:
On the play of left wing Peter Worrell and putting him on the Bure-Kozlov line: [Back to top]
Marcus Nilson, snakebitten in January, was rewarded for a terrific month's work with the tying goal with 5:13 left in the third period. Bure made Nilson's sixth goal feel more special by scoring his second goal of the game, 28th of the season and ninth in eight games against Tampa just 59 seconds into the extra session.
Rob Niedermayer entered the zone with speed, then hit the brakes just over the blue line to wait for trailers. Niedermayer fed Robert Svehla down low, and he spotted Bure cutting to the net. His pass was perfect as Bure redirected it past Kevin Weekes for his 99th goal as a Panther.
It capped a fine game by Bure, but also another exceptional one by Svehla. Svehla, who has played in 188 straight games, was a plus-2 and had a game-high 11 hits, one short of Peter Worrell's team record. That follows a nine-hit effort the night before against Ottawa.
"I don't care who it's against now as long as it's a win," coach Duane Sutter said. "You can see improvement. Throw out the (5-0 loss to Chicago), and we've played some pretty good hockey recently."
It was also nice to get contribution from the blue line, and not just Svehla. Bret Hedican and Anders Eriksson made solid plays on Nilson's equalizer, and it was Hedican's pass through traffic that Nilson gathered and scored into an empty net.
"I think (Hedican) actually fanned on his shot," Nilson said. "I was going to the net for the rebound, but Hedican's shot fooled the D-men and went slowly to the far post. It's just putting the puck to the net and things happen."
Said Lightning coach John Tortorella, " Our coverage was there the second goal. … It was a funny goal because it went through three people."
Sutter praised the defensemen, saying, "We moved the puck pretty well throughout. I'd like to see more shot coming from the point and even if the guy joins in, like (Svehla) did in overtime, it certainly creates havoc for the defensive-zone coverage."
Goalie Trevor Kidd, who made 19 saves, probably would have liked the first Tampa goal back as Fredrik Modin's rocket from the point flew through his glove for Modin's 22nd goal.
It came after Brian Holzinger made a strong play to lift Len Barrie's stick along the wall, which allowed Martin St. Louis to pass to Modin at 8:11 of the first. But that would be the last Lightning shot of the period as the Panthers outshot 10-0 from there.
The Panthers responded a little more than three minutes after Modin's goal after Weekes made a brilliant save on Nilson's rush. But the Panthers scooped up the rebound and regathered themselves in the offensive zone.
Nilson gave the puck up to Viktor Kozlov on the cycle, and Kozlov, who had another solid game, made a couple of fancy moves before making a pretty pass to Bure in front of the net. Bure, while falling, tied the game at 1 as Kozlov extended his point streak to five games (three goals, three assists).
"After not putting that puck in, it was huge to get the goal on the same shift," Nilson said.
Tampa took a 2-1 lead three seconds after a power play when Holzinger redirected defenseman Craig Millar's shot with just 1:47 left in the second.
But the Panthers recovered for an exciting comeback.
"This was a big two points," Nilson said.
And points in three straight home games, which is quite a feat for the league's worst home team.
Subj: POST-GAME SUMMARY - VS LIGHTNING 1-27
The teams traded first period goals with the Lightning striking first at 8:11. Martin St. Louis stripped the puck from a Panther at the blue line and fed Fredrik Modin who let go from the top of the right face-off circle beating Trevor Kidd. The Panthers picked it up toward the midway point of the period and with just over eight minutes remaining, Kevin Weekes made two huge saves (on Marcus Nilson and Viktor Kozlov) in tight quarters. Seconds later, with Kozlov cycling again, Weekes' luck wore off... Viktor worked the puck behind the net and fed Pavel Bure at the edge of the crease. Bure got a shot away as he fell to the ice and it blew by the Tampa netminder.
There wasn't anything especially pretty about the second period as neither team could get any flow going. There was a lot of coast-to-coast action but not much to show for it due to turnovers and missed shots. With 7:45 remaining in the second, Paul Mara rang a shot off the post after beating Kidd from the left side... Play went back the other way and Kevin Weekes had to be sharp with Olli Jokinen breaking in shorthanded... At 18:13 of the period, Tampa connected on the go-ahead goal as Craig Millar's shot from the point deflected off Brian Holzinger in front of the net. The puck changed direction leaving Trevor Kidd no chance on the play. The Panthers came close to tying the score again with just over a minute remaining but Rob Niedermayer's solid effort driving to the net failed to count, as the puck did not cross the goal line...
It looked as though the Panthers might suffer the same fate as last night when early in the third period, Viktor Kozlov rang a shot off the goal post. The Panthers fought through the missed chances and finally, at 14:47 of the period, Marcus Nilson cashed in when Bret Hedican found him at the side of the net. Weekes looked to be expecting the shot from Hedican and could not get across the crease in time. The Panthers pressured late in the period but Kevin Weekes was solid sending the teams to overtime for the second game in a row.
The Panthers made no secret of the fact they were playing for the win tonight and had Tampa on their heels early in the extra period. At 0:59 of the OT stanza, Robert Svehla's cross-ice pass found Pavel Bure and his tip-in went right by Weekes for the Panthers' victory...
The three stars of the game as voted by Mike Russo were: Marcus Nilson (3rd star), Brian Holzinger (2nd star) and Pavel Bure (1st star).
These two teams will finish the home and home series on Tuesday at the Ice Palace... Game time is 7:30 pm.
******
Coach's Comments
On Marcus Nilson's work being rewarded with a goal and his play overall:
Nilson goes from well-rested to respected
By DAVE JOSEPH Staff Writer
“I’m thinking for sure I’m going to be sent down,” said Nilson earlier this week. “I didn’t have any expectations or hopes, but at the start of the season was only getting 4 1/2 minutes a game.”
Things have changed dramatically for Nilson. The Panthers’ first-round pick (20th overall) in 1996, Nilson has become one of this team’s most reliable performers and tenacious players. Whether killing penalties, playing the third line, or igniting this team offensively as he did Monday in Boston, Nilson has been one of the few positives on this Panthers team.
After helping to set up the Panthers second goal in Boston by providing a screen on Bruins goalie Byron Dafoe, Nilson set up the winner by Viktor Kozlov by hard work along the boards. After playing nearly 18 minutes Saturday against the Flyers, Nilson was on the ice for nearly 20 minutes against the Bruins.
“Marcus is a valuable guy,” said Panther coach Duane Sutter. “Real intelligent defensively, very deceptive skater. I think his best asset is his hockey sense. He anticipates well and can adapt to any situation.”
When asked if Nilson might be considered a Tom Fitzgerald clone, Sutter said, “I think Marcus has better stick skill than Tom, but as far as tenacity? Yes, that’d be a good comparison.”
When originally drafted, former Panther scout Paul Henry believed Nilson could be a big goal scorer. But while Nilson could be a 20-goal man, he has no illusions about what his current role should be with the Panthers.
“I don’t see myself as a goal scorer,” said Nilson, who has five goals and six assists. “I mean, I can help out and produce, but I’m not going to be ... ”
Nilson smiles. “There’s always hope, you know? But right now I see myself as working hard, doing my job defensively, and trying to help out offensively. But I’m not going to score goals like Pavel Bure.”
[4/7/01: Marcus Nilson's Final Grade]
[2/22/01: Nilson Continues To Be A Pleasant Surprise]
[2/18/01: Panthers patient with Huselius]
[2/16/01: Nilson assist on Kozlov Game Winner]
[2/15/01: Nilson on No. 1 Line]
[2/2/01: Heselius: Swede Sensation]
[2/7/01: Post-game summary vs. Wild]
[1/31/01: Post-game summary vs. Sabres]
[1/27/01: Article on Marcus' goal against Tampa]
[1/27/01: Post-game summary vs. Lightning]
[1/24/01: Sun-Sentinel; Nilson goes from well-rested to respected]
[1/24/01: Post-game summary vs. Capitals]
[1/22/01: Post-game summary vs. Bruins]
[1/8/01: Panthers Midseason Report Card]
[12/30/00: Panthers Wake Up In Debut For Sutter]
[11/29/00: Nilson's Increasing Ice Time]
[11/24/00: Panthers Make Strides To Turn Season Around]
[11/16/00: Static Youth Finally Shows Movement]
[Nilson bumps Barrie for center spot]
[Panthers' Nilson gets a leg up on bid to claim roster spot.]
[9/14/00: Nilson makes best of NHL chances.]
[9/13/00: Hockey's Future.com's Article.]
Final grades
Sun-Sentinel
Posted April 7 2001
Marcus Nilson: Along with Luongo, he was one of the bright spots. He’s a hard-working player who is willing to battle for the puck while also showing the occasional skill to be a point-getter. He’s a responsible player with solid speed. Midterm: C+. Final: B.
Nilson Continues To Be A Pleasant Surprise
Brian Biggane
Palm Beach Post
(Article has been edited for content)
ICE TIME
Even through Bure has hit the 40-goal plateau and continues to score, Luongo
has been the driving force behind the Panthers' significant improvement
under Duane Sutter. Luongo tied the franchise record for shutouts in a
season (four) set twice by John Vanbiesbrouck. And, with 20 games remaining,
Luongo seems a sure bet to break it.
Another solid performer in the back continues to be Robert Svehla, who is
thriving despite being paired with inconsistent rookie Lance Ward. The best
of the young Panther defenseman, meanwhile, has been John Jakopin, whose
confidence has been rising.
Marcus Nilson's play at left wing continues to be a pleasant surprise. A
long shot to make the team out of training camp, Nilson has spent the last
month on the top line alongside Bure and Kozlov -- and held his own. He
scored a huge goal in Monday's 3-0 blanking of St. Louis. . . .
Panthers patient with Huselius
1997 draft pick unsure about leaving Swedish league for NHL
February 18, 2001
Miami Herald
BY DAVID J. NEAL
dneal@herald.com
A bit of Hockey Jeopardy . . .
Familiar names among Aftonbladet's Top 10 are No. 3 Mikael Renberg, the former Flyers right wing with Eric Lindros and John LeClair; No. 7, defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist, the fourth-round 1995 Panthers pick they could never get to cross the Atlantic; and No. 9, defenseman Per Gustafsson, drafted by Florida as a full adult in 1994 and a Panthers player in 1996-97.
The Huselius expert in the Panthers organization isn't in management, but on the left wing of their first line.
Marcus Nilson and Huselius have known each other since they were 14. They played together on the junior national team and were road roommates.
``He's pure skill,'' Nilson said. ``He's not going to grind it out on the fourth line. A lot of guys are like that. Unbelievable skills, unbelievable hands, good skater.''
Panthers assistant general manager Chuck Fletcher, who has kept Huselius under close observation since the 1997 draft, agrees.
``He's a pure offensive talent,'' Fletcher said. ``He's a player that'll have to play on the top two lines if he's going to play. Not a physical presence and not great defensively. Hopefully, he'll be able to make the adjustment to playing in the smaller rinks. Like a lot of European players, that'll be the true test for him.''
European rinks are set to the international standard, which is 15 feet wider than the North American rinks.
Sometimes, the smartest move is one you don't make. Huselius and the Panthers negotiated throughout last summer, but Huselius wanted to spend one more year in his homeland.
Huselius had led Frolunda in scoring with 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points in 50 games.
Nilson talked to Huselius a couple of times last summer and got the feeling Huselius didn't think he was an NHL player.
``The Swedish League is a good league and he's a big star now,'' Nilson said. ``I understand it. Why would [he] leave all of that if he's not sure? He wants to play in the NHL, he doesn't want to play in the minor leagues, of course.
``I told him I thought it'd be good for you to go to the minors just to get into things. He needs to get a little tougher.''
Fletcher said he thinks Huselius is beyond doing time with the Panthers' AHL affiliate in Louisville, Ky.
``Next year, he'll be 23 and it'll be after four years in the top league in Sweden, which is equivalent to an American league,'' Fletcher said. ``So he's paid his dues over there. His talent is such if he can make the adjustment physically, he should be able to step in and play.''
The only question now is contract terms, which the collective bargaining agreement states has to be two years.
Fletcher said he and Don Meehan, Huselius' agent, talked as recently as Wednesday and don't anticipate problems getting Huselius signed by July 15.
Nilson Assists Kozlov's Game Winner
Florida 3, Boston 2
February 16, 2001
BOSTON (Ticker) -- With his offensively challenged team, rookie Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers probably thought he could not get a win if he allowed a goal.
Luongo made 33 saves and Viktor Kozlov scored with 99 seconds remaining to lift the Panthers to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.
With the score tied, 2-2, Marcus Nilson skated through the right faceoff circle and behind the Boston net before sending a pass to the slot. With Bruins left wing P.J. Axelsson draped on his back, Kozlov muscled a wrist shot between goaltender Byron Dafoe's pads for his fifth goal of the season.
"I think our line played very well all game," Kozlov said. "Nilson did a great job of getting me that puck off the boards. I was able to fight off their guy and get a shot away less than a minute after they tied the game. For us to finally win a game like that feels great."
Nilson on the No. 1 Line
FEBRUARY 15, 2001
Brian Biggane
Palm Beach Post
Robert Svehla continues his solid play on defense, but rookie partner Lance
Ward has been struggling and could be the odd man out when Mike Wilson
returns from a shoulder injury in the next couple weeks. . . .
Huselius: Swede sensation
By Szymon Szemberg
February 02, 2001
In a span of two years, Kristian Huselius has gone from being a bust to the best.
The 22-year-old stickhandling whiz, released by Farjestad in January, 1999, is now considered the No. 1 player in the Swedish Elite League - and some believe the best player outside the NHL.
"His hands and his understanding of the game are unique," said Anders Hedberg, GM of the Swedish national program and a former assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "Those qualities and his rhythm make him an artist on the ice."
That's a pretty lofty praise for a guy who couldn't crack GM Hakan Loob's roster in Farjestad. Loob, a Stanley Cup winner with Calgary in 1989, simply lost patience with the superbly talented left winger.
That was bad news for the Florida Panthers, who drafted Huselius 47th overall in 1997. But everything changed when Vastra Frolunda of Goteborg took a gamble at the beginning of 1999 and brought in Huselius (pronounced hoo-SAY-lee-oos).
"I really needed that change of scenery," Huselius said. "The coaching staff in Frolunda believed in me and that's when things started to turn around."
Not that his career changed overnight. He played 20 games in the second part of the season, getting two goals and two assists, but the club awarded him a two-year contract and that was all Huselius needed as a sign of confidence.
When the 1999-2000 season started, Huselius was ready. Suddenly, the underachieving whiz kid became the talk of the league. He went from the fourth line to the first, got 21 goals and 44 points in 50 games with Frolunda, 10 goals in 19 games with the Swedish team and was the best scorer (four in seven games) for Sweden at the World Championship in Russia.
During the summer, Huselius continued to amaze the Swedish hockey community. The Panthers offered him a lucrative contract, but he wasn't 100 percent sure he was ready to make the jump. He's certain now he made the right decision.
"Last season was my first as a regular in the league," he said. "I needed at least one more season in Europe before I seriously could consider an offer from Florida. I have heard a lot about the minors and it's not a place I want to play."
On Jan. 13, the biggest Swedish daily newspaper, Aftonbladet, released a ranking of the 50 best players in the Elite League. Huselius topped the list, ahead of such seasoned players as ex-Islander and Mighty Duck Jorgen Jonsson and Mikael Renberg, a former member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Not bad for a guy who entered this season as just the fourth-best Panther prospect, as ranked in The Hockey News Yearbook.
"A stick that can perform magic, dazzling skating ability, leads the league in both scoring and assists. That's all there is to be said about the biggest performer in the league," read the newspaper's scouting report.
"It was enormously flattering to see the ranking," said Huselius, who plays alongside 30 year-old center Jonas Johnson and an assortment of right wingers. "it proved to me I have succeeded and also made the right decision staying one more year."
Now, Huselius, who led the league this season with 24 goals and 51 points in 39 games, feels he's ready to make the jump.
"I feel I have accomplished as much as I can in Sweden." said Huselius, a candidate to represent Sweden at the 2002 Olympics. "I am prepared for a bigger challenge, but as of now I haven't heard anything from Florida. But if they call, I will be ready."
And Florida will call after the World Championship.
"It's certainly our intention to sign him and have him here next season," said Panthers' assistant GM Chuck Fletcher. "We wanted him last year, but he stayed and the extra year of experience and maturity has been beneficial to him. He's a pure skill player and he's getting the ice tim eto show his offensive talent."
If and when he joins the Panthers, Huselius hopes to be reunited with right winger Marcus Nilson, drafted 20th overall by Florida in 1996. The two are close friends and were linemates on the Swedish national junior teams.
Of course, it remains to be seen how Huselius' game will translate in the NHL. A highly creative player, he takes full advantage of the bigger European ice surfaces and won't be confined to simply patrolling his wing.
"I am a player who relies on my understanding of the game and my stick and skating technique," he said. "I won't be any good on a third or fourth NHL line with strict checking duties. To be effective I must play on a line that likes puck possession and scoring. I must play on one of the first two lines."
Another aspect of his game to watch is physical play. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Huselius will never be confused with the league's best hitters.
"Kristian is no banger, he is a bit frail and a sensitive guy, both mentally and physically," Hedberg said.
Huselius, however, bristles when he's described as frail.
"OK, I will never be a fighter, but that's not my game," he said. "And the sensitive stuff comes from the years in Farjestad where I failed.
"But people don't understand I came there when I was 17 and was under immediate pressure to perform in a major league. When I didn't live up to expectations, I was disturbed and lost confidence."
Like all Europeans coming to North America, Huselius will have to adapt to the highest level of an offensive counterattack, namely brute intimidation.
Huselius has proved he has outgrown Europe. All he has to do now is to find some space in NHL rinks to perform his magic.
Post Game Summary vs. Wild
February 7, 2001
For the first time since mid-November, the Panthers won their second straight game tonight doubling up on the Wild 2-1...
Subj: POST-GAME SUMMARY - VS SABRES 1-31
Date: 1/31/01 11:31:54 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: flpanthers@flpanthers.com
Wow - what a game! The Panthers fell behind early but battled back scoring four unanswered goals in the third period to beat the Sabres 5-2...
"Peter played hard. He had the one big hit that he got penalized for. Probably for somebody different, maybe it's not a call. Overall Peter's game was pretty complete, especially on the boards, in the trenches. I thought Marcus had struggled a little bit early in the game and on the boards. I thought the game started to get a little bit chippy as well so I thought it was a good time to slide Peter in there and everyone seemed to respond. The whole team did. We were down to 10 forwards, so it was just shuffle a couple guys around and let them play."
Bure strikes Lightning again - he scores in overtime
By MICHAEL RUSSO
Web-posted: 11:54 p.m. Jan. 27, 2001SUNRISE -- Maybe 60 minutes isn't enough for Pavel Bure when he plays the Tampa Bay Lightning or maybe he just likes to torment the Panthers' cross-state rivals. For the second straight time, Bure teased the Bolts long enough to score the overtime winner, this time lifting the Panthers to a thrilling 3-2 victory at National Car Rental Center. The Lightning was looking for its first win in South Florida since April 10, 1996, a span of 12 visits, but Bure spoiled the opportunity again with his fifth overtime goal. "I'm 2 for 2 against them," Bure said, laughing. "It's obviously nice." The Lightning may disagree with that. It dropped its ninth straight game and has one win in 15.
Date: 1/27/01 11:35:28 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: flpanthers@flpanthers.com
The Panthers played their second overtime game in as many nights but this evening's result favored the Cats as they walked away with the extra point after defeating the Lightning 3-2.
"It's a well-deserved reward for Marcus. He's been excellent, I believe, for 15 games now. I think out of the 15 games he's been probably below average one night, maybe two nights at the most. For a kid that age to be able to add something to the Kozlov-Bure line, especially down low cycling, it makes a big impact. The goal as I said is really just a nice reward for him."
Web-posted: 10:22 p.m. Jan. 24, 2001
WASHINGTON — During the first 45 days of this season, Panthers forward Marcus Nilson called the Sheraton Suites in Plantation home. Not even playing five minutes some night, Nilson assumed it wouldn’t be long before he was shipped to the minors.
[Back to top]
Subj: POST-GAME SUMMARY - VS CAPITALS 1-24
Date: 1/24/01 10:32:04 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: flpanthers@flpanthers.com
It didn't take long for the Caps to get on the board in this one, as they posted the first goal of the game on the power play at 0:59. After drawing a few Panther players down low, Adam Oates sent the puck cross-ice to a waiting Peter Bondra. Bondra was just inside the top of the right face-off circle and blew it by Roberto Luongo five-hole. The Cats would regroup through the period, but just couldn't get anything in the back of the net...
The second period saw the Panthers knot the score at one off some good old-fashioned team play. Between the pipes, Roberto Luongo was solid making a sliding save with Bondra racing in on a near breakaway from the red line. Just seconds later, at 9:48, Mike Sillinger netted the equalizer driving into the high slot. As in the Boston game, Viktor Kozlov used his size and strength to make the play happen sending the puck toward the net with a couple defenders all over him. The Cats succumbed to the penalty bug this period spending most of the last seven minutes a man down. Not only did they kill off each call, but they actually had some fabulous chances shorthanded. Marcus Nilson was superb getting no less than three chances on his own
The Panthers played well through the third period but it was the Capitals who would get the go ahead goal at 8:14. Once again, it was Peter Bondra, getting his second of the game from the top of the crease on a spin-around move with Anders Eriksson pressuring. The pass to Bondra came from Nikolishin along the right boards. Roberto Luongo was outstanding through the period and with 6:00 minutes left, he made a couple huge saves on Simon and Bulis after a turnover by Dan Boyle in the Florida end. The Cats came close in the final minute of play but Olaf Kolzig was spectacular shutting them down from every angle.
On the stat sheet, Florida stacked up well in this game... They outshot Washington 32 to 25, won 57% of face-offs, out-hit them 23 to 18 and had 13 blocked shots to the Caps' 11.
The three stars of the game were: Brendan Witt (3rd star), Olaf Kolzig (2nd star) and Peter Bondra (1st star).
The Panthers will head home tonight for a pair at National Car Rental Center this weekend (against Ottawa and Tampa). Tomorrow's practice will take place at Incredible Ice at noon....
Subj: POST-GAME SUMMARY - VS BRUINS 1-22
Date: 1/22/01 10:35:04 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: flpanthers@flpanthers.com
In the opening period, both Scott Mellanby and Mike Sillinger had half of a net to shot at with Dafoe out of position. Mellanby went wide left and Sillinger sailed it over the top of the net.
Vaclav Prospal netted his first as a Panther and the first of the game at 1:22 on the power play. Prospal drove to the net to grab a huge rebound from Pavel Bure's shot and never took his eyes off the target.
The final period was a nailbiter as the Panthers struggled to regain control...The Panthers showed easily their best character of the season when less than a minute later, they got back on top 3-2... Marcus Nilson got the play started digging the puck out of the corner. He carried behind the net and threw the puck out to the high slot. Viktor Kozlov was there, but with PJ Axelsson all over him, it looked as though the play would be lost. Viktor fought back and got a shot away beating Dafoe.
PANTHERS MIDSEASON REPORT
Monday, January 8, 2001
From Sun-Sentinel, South Florida
Written by staff writer Michael Russo
(37 games, 5-4-9, minus-7, 15 PIM) Gets himself into trouble when he tries to do too much, but he's a hard-working player, who can add skill or be the gritty checker driving hard to the net or into the corner. Responsible defensively and has above-average speed. There was a stretch in November where he started to look like he was becoming a player.
