Ranger a Danger as Cats Win Game Two.

Sunrise, Floida -- Despite missing their two best players, the Florida Panthers gutted out a 2-1 home victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. They now lead the series 2-0.

Jason Spezza and Evgeni Malkin were the top two scorers during the regular season for the Panthers. But both got hurt in game one and missed game two. The Panthers played a different type of game tonight. They were counting punching more and they lacked a physical edge for the first time this post season. But the fact remains they came through with a large victory on home ice.

For the second straight game Paul Ranger scored with a blast from the point.

"Ranger has elevated his game this season," said Panthers GM IronMike McComish. "It's so important to have that secondary scoring, especially with the injuries we faced tonight. Paul is getting his point shot on net and it's finding the mark this series. Obviously we hope he keeps it going."

Early in the final frame the Panthers received a big goal from the fourth line when Alyn McCauley scored his 3rd of the post season. It turned out to be a vital goal as the Flyers scored late to make it close.

The injury bug continues to bite the Cats in this series. Marc Savard left the game early in the second period. He was seen limping off the ice to the trainers room. But a release from the team after the game lists Savard as day-to-day with an upper body injury. Go figure!

Game Notes: Patrick Lalime won his fifth straight playoff game. He now has a 1.36 GAA in the post season......Patrick Eaves played his third game in the post season taking the place of Evgeni Malkin......Petr Taticek was called up from the Jacksonville Jokers to play on the second line. He replaced Jason Spezza and assisted on the first goal of the game by Paul Ranger......Most insiders questioned the Panthers decision to acquire Alyn McCauley at the trade deadline. McCauley is making it look like a very wise move. Alyn now has a team leading three goals in the Playoffs......The Panthers have listed Jason Spezza, Evgeni Malkin and Marc Savard as game-time decisions for game three in Philadelphia on Monday night.......Speaking of Philadelphia, Bruno St. Jacques was added to the line-up for game two replacing the suspended Chris Phillips. St. Jacques played 19 quality minutes in his first game this post-season.

Kolnik Earns Top Line Consideration.

Sunrise, Florida -- Juraj Kolnik is like most of the Florida Panthers, until this season he had no Playoff experience. Kolnik differs from all the other members of the Southern Cats because half way through this season he was still toiling in the minors.

Kolnik who had played 74 games in '03-04 and '04-05 under a different Panthers management was a player who was still trying to find his way in the NsHL. But just before his third season things changed in Florida as new GM McComish changed the look of the wingers on the pro roster.

"We brought in Williams and Pandolfo ... Miettinen was emerging," explained the GM. "We thought Juraj needed to find his game with Jacksonville."

Just when he thought he might become a permanent fixture in the "wrong" part of Florida. Kolnik was called up to replace Patrick Eaves in the line-up. Aside from his usual hard-hitting style, Kolnik potted two goals including the game-winner in Washington one night and had impressed enough to stay for the long haul.

"Every time I get a chance to get a shot I try to put the puck on the net,'' said Kolnik, who has two goals in his six playoff games. "Playing with Savvy and Calder, I just go to the net hard and try to bang in the corners.''

Whatever the strategy its paying off in the Playoffs. Kolnik is fourth on the team in Playoff scoring with 5 points in 6 games, including game winners in game three and five in the New Jersey series.

The amount of injuries suffered lately by the Panthers could mean the line of Kolnik, Savard and Calder will be skating as the top line in game two versus Philadelphia.

Game Notes: The Panthers wounded, Nathan Horton, Jason Spezza and Evgeni Malkin all skated today but none went all-out. All are listed with upper body injuries, Horton gave a thumbs up when asked if he will play in game two. Coach Keenan said both Malkin and Spezza will be game time decisions for game two.

The Philadelphia Flyers will have to play without defenseman Chris Phillips in game two tomorrow. Phillips has been given a one game suspension by the NsHL for his brutal hit on Malkin from game one.

Cats Take Game One

Florida -- Round two of the NsHL Playoffs began tonight with a rough-n-tumble game between Florida and Philadelphia. The Cats clawed their way to a hard-earned 2-1 victory to take a 1-0 series advantage.

The first period was evenly played but the Flyers showed they came to play a hard-nosed banging and crashing game. Gilbert Brule took the first of three charging penalties on the night for the Flyers.

Cats Coach Keenan: "They were running our guys all night. One thing is for sure, they found out in a hurry we can play that game too."

The second period saw the Cats take charge. Paul Ranger scored his first point of the post season when his point blast found the back of the net early in the second frame. Evgeni Malkin then fired a one-timer past Flyers goalie Evgeni Nabokov to make it two-zip.

During the second period, Panthers top scoring pivot, Jason Spezza left with an upper-body injury. Spezza did not return to the game and had a quick and terse "no comment" when asked if he would play in game two.

The third period had an edge to it from the outset. 36 minutes in penalties were called and the Panthers lost another Superstar to injury. Malkin left the game after a dirty hit from Flyers defender Chris Phillips. Malkin was taken to a local hospital for observation. Phillips received a two minute penalty, a ten minute misconduct and was ejected from the contest.

When hockey was being played it was all Panthers in the frame. But, Nabakov would keep his team in the game . The Flyers would rally thanks to a Ruslan Fedotenko goal to cut the lead in half. But the Southern Cats kept their advantage and won game one.

Game Notes: Nathan Horton was back in the line-up after missing game 4 and 5 of the first round series versus New Jersey. Horton was clearly not his normal self posting no hits and a minus-1.

Patrick Lalime made his 4th straight start in goal and stopped 17 of 18 shots to earn the win.

Paul Ranger had 5 shots on goal including one goal after being held pointless by the Devils. Ed Jovanovski was a massive star in game one. He logged 25 minutes was a plus-2, fired 3 shots and 6 hits plus he took a penalty and added a helper on Rangers goal.