A South Florida team wins! Panthers take home opener

Some team needs to save us.

The Miami Heat may do it. They feel better about this particular roster than any since the Big 3 era. Erik Spoelstra couldn’t stop smiling all week at training camp at Keiser University in West Palm Beach. But the Florida Panthers may have more talent, as ranked in its particular sport, than the Heat. They have two legit scoring lines, depth at forward, a couple of proven defensive pairings, elite goaltending — and now a guy, Joel Quenneville, who will know what to do with it.

After a season-opening loss against a stacked Tampa Bay Lightning squad, the Panthers returned home to face the Lightning again. And, in a 4-3 win, they looked good. Really good. Yes, the third period made you queasy, as it so often does. But Florida’s overall skill level is striking.

Some highlights…

Mike Hoffman with the first @FlaPanthers home ice goal of the season pic.twitter.com/NRAEwUZayu

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

Mike Hoffman again on the power play.

It's 2-0 Panthers. This place is…. loud.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

This time from the fourth line.

Noel Acciari with the rebound and stickwork.

3-0 Panthers.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

3-1 Panthers after 2. @5ReasonsSports

— DutchBeek (@DutchBeek) October 6, 2019

Mike Hoffman has a hat trick.#FloridaPanthers

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

Hoffman hattrick.

4-1 Cats.

Fans throwing hats on the ice! pic.twitter.com/lJAejEoOmE

— DutchBeek (@DutchBeek) October 6, 2019

Bob has had himself a night #floridapanthers pic.twitter.com/axWTNEvajs

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

Panthers win 4-3 pic.twitter.com/uwNyvg34Iq

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

Mike Hoffman, after the hat trick, on the Panthers’ 4-3 win pic.twitter.com/DJsfrZyMnj

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

Bob after his first Panthers win pic.twitter.com/y84LzznW9K

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019

The captain, Sasha Barkov, after the Panthers first win this season pic.twitter.com/eJxISMDSzd

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) October 6, 2019