With James Reimer experiencing early-season struggles, head coach Bob Boughner called upon third-string netminder Michael Hutchinson for the start. How would the hopeful Cats fare in Hutchinson’s Panther debut against the dynamic Philadelphia Flyers on the road?
The game commenced with Florida dominating play against the home team. Several gorgeous chances were generated by FLA’s first two lines, but the Cats couldn’t capitalize on any scoring opportunities early on.
Following a successfully killed penalty and an unsuccessful power-play effort, the Cats would eventually strike first blood.
Returning from being healthy scratched the game prior, forward Frank Vatrano potted a laser beam from a sharp angle, providing the Panthers with the early advantage on the score sheet (1-0 FLA).