Rookie Camp: Panthers improve to 1-0; Lightning lose 2 games

CORAL SPRINGS - The Florida Panthers topped the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first game of the "Kevin Dineen Era" last night at the Saveology Iceplex in Coral Springs.

Before the game, the two teams paused for a moment of silence to remember Wade Belak (Suicide), Ruslan Salei, Karlins Skratstans, and Alexander Karpovtsev (Plane Crash), all of the Lokomitiv hockey team, and all of the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Scott Timmins, who was celebrating his birthday, scored the first goal at the 15:20 mark in the first period. The goal came off a rebound in front of the net. Logan Shaw and Alexander Petrovic were credited with assists on the play. Timmins played in 19 games with the Panthers last year and had one goal.

After Tampa Bay's Cory Conacher scored early in the 2nd period, tying the game at 1, the Panthers rookies took over.Vladislav Namestinkov, the Lightning's top pick in the 2011 draft, took a high sticking call, and his Florida counterpart took advantage. Jonathan Huberdeau passed the puck to Timmins, who tried to give it right back to the Number 3 Overall pick in June's draft. Huberdeau saw it in front of the net and put the puck home at 6:20 for his first goal in a Panther uniform.

The Panthers made it a trifecta, with Timmins taking a penalty for boarding, and John McFarland scoring a shorthanded goal 10:52 in.

At the 17:52 mark, however, Ondrej Palat brought the Lightning back to within one. But the Panthers came out of the gate looking to get the goal back, and did 3:39 in. Left-winger Corey Durocher gave the Cats the insurance and ultimately, the Panthers won 4-2.

CAT BYTES:

• Erik Gudbranson and Carter Ashton fought in the game. The fight led to a loud chant of "Let's Go Panthers".
• Approximately 2,000 fans were in attendance for the game Sunday night. 
• The Rookies were coached by AHL coach Chuck Weber.
• The Lightning fell to the Nashville Predators 7-3 Monday night.
• The Panthers will face the Predators at 11am on Tuesday. Look for live updates on here or on Twitter. Follow @790Justin for more!