Logan Hutsko scored twice, but it wasn’t enough as the shorthanded Florida Panthers development camp crew fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-5 in the Prospects Showcase Tournament finale in Wesley Chapel, FL.
Henry Bowlby, Cole Schwindt and Simon Pinard scored the other Florida markers.
Spencer Knight surrendered four goals and exited when Maxim Cajkovic notched his second of the game at 8:44 of the second period. Olivier Adam entered at that point and was quickly beaten by Cameron MacDonald. Adam gave up a total of three goals. Jaydon Dureau provided the tilt’s final tally into an empty net.
After the game, the squads played a shootout which the Cats won 2-1.
Highlights
Florida Goal #1: Serron Noel sets up Henry Bowlby
.@serron_noel ➡️ @BigBowl__by = 🚨 #FlaPanthers cut the deficit to 2-1! pic.twitter.com/1z8vkDHVVf
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) September 21, 2021
Goal #2: Cole Schwindt converts the rebound of a shot from Frederic Brunet
GOAL! @C_Schwinny10 on the rebound!#FlaPanthers cut the deficit down to 3-2. pic.twitter.com/52e8t0Jw8z
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) September 21, 2021
Goal #3: Simon Pinard with the snipe
Pinard answers! 🚨
Awesome touch pass from Nachbaur to set it up. pic.twitter.com/qXpnyzzZvm
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) September 21, 2021
Goal #4: Logan Hutsko goes to the net and gets his first
GOAL! @lhutsko9 gets a piece in front!#FlaPanthers now only trail 5-4 after 2 quick goals. pic.twitter.com/410A8cYLct
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) September 21, 2021
Goal #5: Hutsko takes a drop pass from Connor Trenholm and snaps it home
.@lhutsko9 goes top-shelf and we have a tie game!
Hutsko now has 4 goals over his las two games. pic.twitter.com/eBBpRVX0kE
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) September 21, 2021
The Panthers finished the tournament with a 1-2 record. Tampa Bay finished a perfect 3-0.
Here are the point totals for the Panthers scorers at the Prospect Showcase Tournament
Logan Hutsko: 3 goals, 2 assists
Henry Bowlby: 3 goals, 1 assist
Justin Nachbaur: 1 goal, 3 assists
Serron Noel: 2 goals, 1 assists
Frederic Brunet: 3 assists
Grigori Denisenko: 1 goal, 1 assist
Simon Pinard: 1 goal, 1 assist
Cole Schwindt: 1 goal, 1 assist
Anton Lundell: 2 assists
Justin Sourdif: 2 assists
Eric Alarie: 1 goal
Robert Calisti: 1 goal
Karch Bachman: 1 assist
Matt Kiersted: 1 assist
BB&T Center to get a new name
Florida Panthers President & CEO Matt Caldwell announced that the Arena Operating Company, a subsidiary of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, has commenced a search for a new arena naming rights partner. In the interim, the arena will be called FLA Live Arena. The announcement follows a mutual agreement between the Arena Operating Company and BB&T now Truist to not extend the arena naming rights agreement effective immediately. BB&T has been the Panthers’ arena naming rights partner since 2012.
FLA Live Arena? I don’t know,,, The Litter Box has a nice ring to it. Just saying…
NHL Signings
The Minnesota Wild and Kirill Kaprizov have agreed on a five-year contract worth $45 million that keeps him in the State of Hockey through the 2025-26 season. In 55 games during his rookie campaign, Kaprizov scored 27 goals and 51 points, leading his team in both categories. (Hockey Wilderness)
The St. Louis Blues signed Robert Thomas, 22, to a two-year deal worth $5.6 million. Thomas produced three goals and nine assists in 33 games with the Blues last season in the final year of his entry-level contract. (Sportsnet)
Elvis Merzlikins signed a five-year contract extension worth $27 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old Latvian has spent the last two seasons in Columbus where he boasts a .920 save percentage and 2.54 GAA over the span of 61 games. His new deal will kick in at the start of the 2022-23 season. (The Cannon)