Scouting Report (Courtesy of Stats LLC)
As the rest of the NHL opened play earlier this week, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers practiced. And practiced. And practiced some more.
But finally the last two teams yet to begin their season -- at least in North America (Edmonton and New Jersey open in Sweden) -- drop the puck Saturday at Amalie Arena.
”You get a little jealous of watching the games,” Florida coach Bob Boughner told the team website. “You wish you could not only play one early but play the next one right after.