Keith Ballard News

Sidney Crosby scored on a power play at 3:07 of overtime, and the Penguins rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 Monday night.

Sunrise Panthers defenseman Keith Ballard wasn't himself on the ice at the start of this season.

The Panthers didn't get to bed here until after 2 a.m. Saturday after a night spent chasing the Red Wings all over the ice in a win that was equally exhausting emotionally.

Former Edmonton Oilers winger Ryan Smyth's hopes of making the Canadian Olympic hockey team took a major jolt Wednesday when he was told he was out a month with an "upper-body" injury.

Michael Frolik scored twice, Dominic Moore and Rostislav Olesz had a goal and an assist each, and Tomas Vokoun made 26 saves in the surging Florida Panthers' 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.

BATTLING HARD: Boston Bruins left wing Marco Sturm and Florida Panthers defenceman Keith Ballard try to control the puck in the overtime period of their NHL hockey game in Boston, Massachusetts.

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.