The Florida Panthers got off to a roaring start at the 2024 Rookie Showcase at Ford Ice Center Bellevue in Nashville by beating the Predators by a 5-2 count.
2023 second-round pick Gracyn Sachyn opened the scoring at the 6:01 mark by whipping home a shot after being set up by Oliver Okuliar after a turnover. It was the only goal of the first period.
After Michael Benning held the puck in the zone at the left point, Sawchyn took the puck towards the net before sending a sweet backhand dish to Hunter St. Martin, who drove it home. The power-play goal made it 2-0 Cats early in the second.
Nashville’s Hiroki Gojsic halved the deficit by getting loose down the left side and beating Cooper Black upstairs short side.
Benning put the Panthers back up by two by taking a pass from Sandis Vilmanis and firing past a screened Magnus Chrona from long range at 7:05. Good job of camping out in front by Wilmer Skoog.
The third period saw Tanner Molendyk pull the Predators back within a goal before Ryan McAllister and Ben Steeves provided empty-net goals to give the Cats a well-deserved win.
Florida’s more experienced rookie roster played with better structure, was more physical and a lot sharper on special teams.
Black, who played two years at Dartmouth, made either 29 or 30 saves depending on which official website you trust more.
The Panthers will take on the Carolina Hurricanes today 3 p.m.