The Florida Panthers got the party started in the right way Wednesday night for the much anticipated return of Brady Tkachuk to face the Ottawa Senators.
Tkachuk, booed immensely from warmups through his exit with 1:14 remaining, gave the Panthers the initial lead on a power-play goal off a pass from Matthew.
Panthers lines tonight: projected lineup and starting goalie →
After that, it was all Senators in a 5-1 win between the two Atlantic Division foes.
“I guess,’’ Paul Maurice said, “they were more excited than we were.’’
Brady Tkachuk’s goal came on Florida’s first shot on goal of the night 10 minutes into the game.
Although Ottawa tied the score late in the period, it was the second period that really did the Panthers in.
As Maurice pointed out, the Panthers spent a lot of time of the second period in the penalty box, giving Ottawa a few extra power-play chances it did not cash in on — but set the tone for the period.
Florida went into the third down 3-1.
”The designing feature of our game is the forecheck,’’ Maurice said. “I don’t ever think we got to it.’’
As for Brady, he said it was “nice to be back” despite all the vitriol he faced from the fans who once cheered him.
“Were they ruthless? No, it was good,’’ Brady said. “That shows the passion that they have. One chapter closed. Like I said, this is an exciting new chapter that we are living. It was nice to be in front of this passionate fan base. … Lot of great moments, lots of ups-and-downs. Nothing but great things that I experienced, but my family experienced as well.’’
The Panthers flew out of town immediately with a game tonight in Pittsburgh.
Maurice said the Panthers have been good about shelving a loss and bouncing back in the next one.
“All the game we have lost, and, we have lost some games in the past,’’ Maurice said, “we have been able to find the reason for it, and use it. You win or you learn in this league.’’
Said Brady: “Not the outcome we wanted, but we just started a road trip. Got to bounce back, move on to tomorrow.’’
ON DECK: GAME No. 11
FLORIDA PANTHERS at PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
George Richards is the publisher of Florida Hockey Now and has been the beat writer covering the NHL Florida … More about George Richards, FHN Publisher