McGinn posts two points, Kinkaid holds fort for Florida
Florida Panthers (3) vs Washington Capitals (1)......
The Panthers went into Sunday's game versus the Capitals in Landover having lost just once in their last eight games. The Caps meanwhile were riding a three game win streak of their own.
The first period was scoreless as both goalies stopped 11 shots, the Panthers PP had two chances but came up short on both man advantages.
The second frame started the same with the Caps taking an early penalty but this time the 'Cats pounced on their opportunity with Josh Bailey bagging his 8th of the season at 3:48 while Jonathan Huberdeau was serving a slashing penalty. Florida doubled their lead at 10:39 as Jamie McGinn collected his first of the season with a wrister over the glove of Mike Smith. The Panthers enjoyed a 20-17 shot advantage through 40 minutes.
In the third period the Capitals got on the board thanks to a man advantage goal from Michael Handzus at 2:07, his second of the year, with Josh Bailey serving time for interference. Sergei Gonchar restored Florida's two goal lead at the 13:07 mark thanks to McGinn's second point of the night, whose slapshot Smith got a pad on but directed it straight out to the point where Gonchar released his 100 plus mile an hour slapshot that nearly took the net off it's moorings. The 'Cats out-shot the Caps 31-22 in the game.
Keith Kinkaid won his first start as a Florida Panther, stopping 21 shots, Kinkaid was the surprise starter as Montoya's equipment never made it's way to Washington and Tim Thomas was given a scheduled maintenance day and didn't even travel with the team.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS
1 - Jamie McGinn (Flo).... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 6 shots, played almost 19:00
2 - Keith Kinkaid (Flo)..... surprised starter stopped 21 shots for his first win this season in his first start.
3 - Sergei Gonchar (Flo).... Gonch's laser beam was insurance marker, 4 shots
The Panthers went into Sunday's game versus the Capitals in Landover having lost just once in their last eight games. The Caps meanwhile were riding a three game win streak of their own.
The first period was scoreless as both goalies stopped 11 shots, the Panthers PP had two chances but came up short on both man advantages.
The second frame started the same with the Caps taking an early penalty but this time the 'Cats pounced on their opportunity with Josh Bailey bagging his 8th of the season at 3:48 while Jonathan Huberdeau was serving a slashing penalty. Florida doubled their lead at 10:39 as Jamie McGinn collected his first of the season with a wrister over the glove of Mike Smith. The Panthers enjoyed a 20-17 shot advantage through 40 minutes.
In the third period the Capitals got on the board thanks to a man advantage goal from Michael Handzus at 2:07, his second of the year, with Josh Bailey serving time for interference. Sergei Gonchar restored Florida's two goal lead at the 13:07 mark thanks to McGinn's second point of the night, whose slapshot Smith got a pad on but directed it straight out to the point where Gonchar released his 100 plus mile an hour slapshot that nearly took the net off it's moorings. The 'Cats out-shot the Caps 31-22 in the game.
Keith Kinkaid won his first start as a Florida Panther, stopping 21 shots, Kinkaid was the surprise starter as Montoya's equipment never made it's way to Washington and Tim Thomas was given a scheduled maintenance day and didn't even travel with the team.
MOLSON'S 3 STARS
1 - Jamie McGinn (Flo).... 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 6 shots, played almost 19:00
2 - Keith Kinkaid (Flo)..... surprised starter stopped 21 shots for his first win this season in his first start.
3 - Sergei Gonchar (Flo).... Gonch's laser beam was insurance marker, 4 shots
