Panthers' comeback falls short in first preseason loss

By Steve Gorten | SunSentinel.com

September 26, 2008

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - The Panthers suffered their first loss this preseason, but it took a shootout for the Oilers to beat them 3-2 Thursday night at Rexall Arena.

Playing the Oilers for the second time in as many nights, the Panthers erased a two-goal deficit in the third period. But Marc Pouliot ultimately gave Edmonton the win in the third round of the shootout.

Rostislav Olesz started the shootout and came up empty. Sam Gagner then scored for the Oilers. Michael Frolik came through for the Panthers in the second round. Gilbert Brule followed with a hard shot off the crossbar. In the third round, Kamil Kreps failed to get a shot off, setting up Pouliot to win the game.

The Panthers had pulled even with 1:42 left in the third period when Anthony Stewart set up in front of Oilers' goalie Mathieu Garon and deflected in Stefan Meyer's shot.

The Panthers pulled within 2-1 with 9:27 left in the game as Rostislav Olesz and Radek Dvorak crashed the net after a shot from Shawn Matthias. Olesz could put the puck past Garon, but Dvorak stuck in the rebound.

The Oilers scored the first of their two goals 7:57 into the game. Tyler Spurgeon skated to his right, and with three Panthers surrounding him, fired a shot from the slot past goalie Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun played for the first time this preseason, and as planned, Craig Anderson replaced him halfway through the second period. Vokoun made 10 saves.

The Panthers didn't allow Anderson to ease into the game. They gave the Oilers a 5-on-3 power play and Robert Nilsson scored with 7:13 left in the period. Standing in front of the right post, Nilsson easily slammed in the puck for a 2-0 lead. The Panthers, meanwhile, failed to score on four power plays in the second period, extending their man-advantage drought this season to 0-for-18.