Keith Ballard News

Alex Ovechkin was the biggest name out of the Washington lineup Friday night, but the Capitals also lost Mike Green and Jeff Schultz to undisclosed injuries in the first two periods.

Defense and playmaking - that topped the list of reasons the Florida Panthers acquired Steve Reinprecht this summer.

No lead the Florida Panthers took at American Airlines Center seemed to be safe Friday night.

Watching from high above the ice Saturday night, Panthers defenseman Bryan Allen was bothered by the hit to the head David Booth took from the Flyers' Mike Richards.

Since Saturday, the N.H.L. has been abuzz yet again about a hit to the head, this time involving two star players, Florida's David Booth, who was their top goal scorer last season, and Philadelphia's captain, Mike Richards.

FLA PIT 12:39 1 0 15:16 2 0 FLA PIT 2 0 FLA PIT 2:14 2 1 16:41 2 2 OT FLA PIT 2 2 Shootout Summary Start of Shootout period Shootout attempt by Kris Letang SAVED by Tomas Vokoun Shootout attempt by Steve Reinprecht SAVED by Brent Johnson Shootout GOAL scored by Sidney Crosby on Tomas Vokoun Shootout attempt by Ville Koistinen SAVED by Brent Johnson ...

Panthers' forward David Booth spent Saturday night at a local hospital after receiving a vicious hit to the head late in the second period of Saturday night's 5-1 loss to the Flyers at Wachovia Center.

Sidney Crosby 3, Florida Panthers 2. Crosby had a power-play goal and a short-handed score in the third period, then scored the only goal in a shootout to help the Pittsburgh Penguins win their seventh straight game, 3-2 over the Panthers on Friday night.

On Wednesday night, the Florida Panthers were overwhelmed by guys named Pominville and Vanek.

Those who arrived to BankAtlantic Center a few minutes late on Wednesday may have wondered what had happened.

Radek Dvorak scored the game-winner in the third period, and the Florida Panthers took a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at BankAtlantic Center.

Jordan Leopold , the former Gophers star now with the Florida Panthers, blocked a shot against the Blackhawks.

There is little comparison to the home and visitors locker rooms at Carolina's RBC Center.

Keith Ballard of the Florida Panthers upends Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks Friday during their season opener in Helsinki, Finland.

Ville Koistinen provided a fitting end to the first regular-season NHL game ever played in Finland.

Antti Niemi made 23 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks used three power-play goals to rout the Florida Panthers 4-0 Saturday and split the season-opening double header in Finland.

Seized with hockey fever in advance of the Florida Panthers ' season opener against Chicago tomorrow , we took to the Internet to see what they were saying about our beloved Cats.

Playing in an unfamiliar place, against an unfamiliar team, the Florida Panthers found themselves in a familiar situation - losing in a shootout.

Pascal Leclaire will carry extremely high expectations into the crease this season, starting with his first game in an Ottawa jersey tonight.

Montreal Canadiens Scott Gomez scores on Florida Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen during first period pre-season NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Thursday, September 17, 2009 in Montreal.