Colby Robak News

On the same evening the NFL Draft was being held, the Panthers guaranteed themselves at the very least the second overall pick in the June 30 NHL Draft by losing, 4-0, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the final home game of the season at the BB&T Center on Thursday night.

Instead, behind the sparkling goaltending of rookie Jacob Markstrom and a tic-tac-toe power-play goal by Marcel Goc the Panthers snapped a season-long six-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the desperate New Yawkers on Tuesday night at a packed BB&T Center.

Somewhat amazingly, the Panthers and Rangers have split their current season series with one victory each heading into this evening's match from Sunrise.

SUNRISE Usually when Panthers coach Kevin Dineen is asked about underachieving, oft-injured Scottie Upshall, his careworn visage seems to reflect all 19 years of his well-earned NHL battle scars before expressing his frustration over the 29-year-old forward's play.

Newly acquired Edmonton Oilers centre Jerred Smithson, here in action this season with the Florida Panthers, whom the Oilets shipped a fourth-round draft pick to on trade deadline day, April 3, 2013, to acquire him.