Panthers Scouting Prospects

Brampton, Ont -- Panthers GM has left the playoff drive and trade deadline talks behind for the day. The Florida management team are in Brampton today scouting some of the best prospects on the planet.

The Panthers are always looking for great young talent. On display today at the "bunker" in Brampton are:

Lining up for the Hometown Battalion:

CODY HODGSON #19 ... gifted Center entered the 2007-08 campaign as one of International Scouting Service's top-10 rated prospects for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft .

MATT DUCHENE #9 ... soaring up the prospect ranks ... watch for him in the '09 draft.

CORY EMMERTON #25 ... drafted by DET in the NsHL

BOB SANGUINETTI #24 ... drafted by MIN in the NSHL

For the visiting PETES:

ZACH BOGOSIAN #4 ... "Boggs" to his mates ... dman will be hot property in '08 draft

JOHN ARMSTRONG #11 .. drafted by WSH in the NsHL

Of course the Panthers are hoping to see Petes goalie TREVOR CANN in action today. Cann was picked in round two (40th overall) of the '07 NsHL draft by Florida.

**Notes**
Watch the FLABLOG for all the exciting news from Panther-land as the trade deadline approaches. With the Panthers fighting for a playoff spot it is expected the team will be buying at the deadline.

Cats Sneak Past Isles; Horton Nets Hattrick.

Florida - The New York Islanders and the Florida Panthers played a wide open, friendly game of shinny tonight. The game was a high scoring affair with not one penalty. Kyle Calder scored the game winner in the third and the Southern Cats hung on for a 5-4 win.

The Panthers carried the play for the first two periods. They out-shot the Isles 28-15 through two frames and held a 4-2 advantage on the scoreboard. Panthers winger Nathan Horton scored three goals in the first two periods to pace the Panthers.

In the third, it was all New York. They were charging hard at Florida for much of the third period and Saku Koivu scored to cut the lead to one with just three minutes to play. Panthers goalie, Manny Fernandez held sway and the Panthers escaped with a one goal win.

NOTES: Marc Savard assisted on all three goals by Horton. Isles defender, Mattias Ohlund left the game with an injury, its not expected to be anything serious. The Panthers have six forwards with 14 or more goals. Calder leads with 19. Paul Ranger has been moved to the second line playing with Ed Jovanovski, against the Isles he played 23 minutes and was a plus2.