TAMPA (CBSMiami/SportsDirect) – The state of Florida may finally be getting the hockey rivalry that should have already been going on for decades.
The Florida Panthers’ rebuilt defense corps shined in the first two games of the season and the group gets its toughest test yet against the host Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Florida general manager Tom Rowe brought in three veterans to join a trio of solid young blue liners in the top six and the Panthers allowed two goals total in a pair of victories.
Keith Yandle, Mark Pysyk and Jason Demers joined rookie Mike Matheson, along with holdovers Aaron Ekblad and Alex Petrovic, in front of goalie Roberto Luongo to beat New Jersey and Detroit – yielding 46 shots on goal combined.