Panthers heat up the ice with tie-breaker game – CBS Miami

SUNRISE (CBSMiami) – The fiery Panthers are entering their third week of the season as one of the top teams in the NHL.

For the first time in franchise history, the Cats won their first five games and outscored their opponents in wins.

READ MORE: Miami Rescue Mission makes it their mission to feed the homeless on Thanksgiving

They average four and a half goals per game and, evenly matched, were the stingiest team in hockey. It was a balanced attack with head coach Joel Queneville throwing his lines most nights fairly evenly.

The emergence of rookie Anton Lundell, who now skates with Sam Reinhart and Mason Marchment, has formed a surprising and unexpected trio who in many situations are as good as the team. The last three games, not only are they playing well, but they are also scoring. This emergence made the Panthers the most dangerous offensive team in the NHL.

Perhaps the most important is the game of goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky. He’s having a fantastic start to the season, one of the best goalies in the league and for just the second time in his career, he’s won his first four decisions. Bobrovsky looked bigger in the net, was very calm and made the right saves when the team needed them.

READ MORE: ‘OMG! So it just happened ‘: Miami’s most famous bald eagle lays an egg on Live Eagle Cam

And Spencer Knight, 20, has only been in one game so far and has put in a great performance beating Tampa Bay on the road, allowing just one goal.

The Panthers are looking to continue with a very busy week, hosting Arizona on Monday and Boston on Wednesday.

Then the Panthers hit the road for back-to-back games, taking on the improved Detroit Red Wings on Friday night and then the rematch against the Bruins in Boston on Saturday.

NO MORE NEWS: 1 of the 2 elevators of the Civic Towers finally fixed in time for Thanksgiving

The Cats’ mission is to keep racking up as many points as possible early in the season to put themselves in a good position with some cushioning to advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in late April.