In Elmont, the New York Islanders opened their season at home to a thud, in a 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Paul Maurice debuted as the new head coach for the Panthers.
“It was a fun bench to be behind,” Maurice said. “They’re serious, they’re hardworking and they’re very intense, but they’re also very funny guys. I enjoyed it.”
Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves in the Panthers win.
After a scoreless opening period, Eetu Luostarinen put Florida ahead, 1-0, in the middle frame.
“The first goal would be kind of exactly the kind of goal that we need to develop an ability to score,” Maurice said. “Net front, slot tip, low to high, back of the net.”
Noah Dobson, the lone striker for the Isles tied the game, 1-1, off the power play in the third period.
“We created quite a bit,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “At the end of the day, you have to put the puck in the net.”
The game was the season opener for both clubs.
Following the Dobson goal, Patric Hornqvist struck 30 seconds later for the Panthers for the game-winner and a 2-1 lead.
“The mindset is you’ve got to enjoy these kinds of games,” Maurice said. “They’re no fun in the regular season, especially if you’re used to scoring five or six goals a night, but it looks exactly the way a playoff game is going to be. It’s going to be a grinder. If you don’t get the puck in deep, you’re going to pay for it. All those hard things, that’s the addition to our game. We think we can still be dynamic off the rush, but we’ve got learn how to handle this kind of game.”
Matthew Tkachuk added an empty-net goal with 75 seconds left on the clock for the 3-1 final.
“It’s nice to get the first one, but goal or not, that’s how I want to play,” said Tkachuk. “It’s the team I want to play on. … I was saying earlier how quick it’s taken us to get [together] as a team, and I know after one day I feel like I played with these guys for 10 years. It wasn’t an adjustment. I barely even played in the preseason, so it’s just a credit to the guys and the environment I’m surrounded in. I’m just so lucky.”
Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves in the Islanders loss.
“We had some momentum and they took it right away,” Lee said.
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