Sport-scan daily brief

The Oilers finished with 22 blocked shots (compared to 11 by the Canucks) and 28 hits (13 for Vancouver). Ben Eager and Tyler Pitlick led the way with five each.

“The amount of contact we had, I loved,” said Eakins, “but after the second period, I told our team whether we won 4-1, or 8-1, those four guys that killed that penalty and blocked all those shots, is what we need. That rubs off on people. It shows a dedication and a commitment that we want to instill in this group.

“That was the highlight of the game for me, that one penalty kill.”

Eakins had said earlier in the week that he was not going to refrain from putting his top players out in shorthanded situations and he did so against the Canucks. Ales Hemsky and Taylor Hall both logged time on the penalty kill.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717270 Edmonton Oilers

Early offence puts Edmonton Oilers out of Vancouver Canucks’ reach

By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun

First posted: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 10:29 PM MDT | Updated: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 11:26 PM MDT

VANCOUVER - VANCOUVER — The Edmonton Oilers haven’t had much to celebrate so far in the preseason, but their start Wednesday night was something to hang their hat on.

The Oilers jumped on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, scoring four first-period goals en route to a 4-1 victory.

“I felt good for our group,” said Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins. “We went through our rookie tournament and then the game at home and the game in Winnipeg where we didn’t have any wins. So I’m happy for our group that we’re able to get one under our belt, and hopefully, keep that going as we move forward.”

Luongo was making his first start of the preseason for the Canucks and did not exude much confidence his team traded away the right guy at the NHL Entry Draft this summer. He also gave Canadian Olympic hockey fans a reason to worry.

And while Luongo did settle down in the second period, the damage had been done as the Oilers showcased some of the offensive weapons they’ll be depending on this season.

Jordan Eberle, Martin Marincin, David Perron and Jesse Joensuu scored for the Oilers, while Devan Dubnyk turned away 25 shots, recording his first victory of the preseason.

“It was a good start, there were a couple of really good bounces for us early on,” Perron said. “After that, I think we kept the pressure on, although we didn’t score goals, we kind of kept going at them. It was just overall a good road game for us, and I know it’s only preseason, but it’s got to start somewhere.”

Brendan Gaunce scored for the Canucks, who had plenty of weapons in the lineup, including Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who have notoriously feasted on the Oilers. They too were making their preseason debuts.

Against the Canucks, the Oilers looked sharp early, troubling the home squad with their speed through the neutral zone.

Eberle opened the scoring on the power play just under five minutes into the contest on a wraparound.

Just over two minutes later, Marincin doubled the lead when his point shot made its way through a maze of players and found the corner of the net.

Perron added a third, 31 seconds later, firing a shot through Luongo, who had plenty of rust to shake off.

“It’s funny, because Eberle was yelling for the puck on that play and I knew he was driving the net on the far side,” Perron said. “I just kind of put it at the net. I knew it was either going to end up off his pad and on (Eberle’s) stick or in the corner somewhere where he could go and get it.

“It ended up going in, I saw him celebrate, so it’s good to get that one in, but they probably all won’t go in like that.”

Joensuu added a fourth, burying a shot from the slot moments after Luongo had made a sprawling save.

With the exception of Tyler Pitlick, Mark Arcobello and Joensuu, the Oilers iced a different lineup than the one that fell to the Jets the night before.

Taylor Hall centred the top unit between Ryan Smyth and Ales Hemsky, while Boyd Gordon skated with Perron and Eberle as his wingers. Will Acton, Ben Eager and Mike Brown made up the fourth line.

“The amount of contact we had, I loved,” Eakins said. “The highlight of the game for me, though, was the one penalty kill where all four guys got involved and blocked some shots.”

CUTS … The Oilers made a handful of cuts Wednesday prior to the game. The club sent RW Cameron Abney, D Brandon Davidson and LW Kale Kessy to the Oklahoma City Barons, while returning LW Mitchell Moroz to the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717271 Edmonton Oilers

Fresh chance for Ben Eager with Edmonton Oilers

By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun

First posted: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 08:48 PM MDT | Updated: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 09:07 PM MDT

VANCOUVER — Many figured Ben Eager’s days with the Edmonton Oilers were over after being put on waivers by the club last season.

However, when Eager went unclaimed, he began the road to redemption, working his way from Oklahoma City back into the Oilers’ good graces.

The road continued Wednesday when the Oilers took on the Vancouver Canucks in their third game of the preseason. Eager skated on the Oilers fourth line with Will Acton and Mike Brown.

“I used my time down in OKC to improve my game,” Eager said. “I got a better opportunity and it was nice to get back in the playoffs and go on a long playoff run. I love playing in the playoffs. I think I’m a playoff-style player.

“It was a great experience down there and it was nice to get refreshed hockey-wise. Sometimes it’s nice to take a step back and realized why you play the game. I had a lot of fun down there.”

Eager wants to parlay that and a good summer of training into a roster spot this season. He’s the type of player the team is in need of.

“I know I can still be an effective player in this league,” Eager said. “I can skate really well, I think I can get in on the forecheck well and create some turnovers.

“I know we need some size here, I think I can provide that,” said Eager, who came into camp leaner than last season. “I’m just looking to work hard and try to earn an opportunity to be a regular player and get some good minutes. I’ve done that in the past and I’ve helped teams get to where they want to be.”

He worked hard to adhere to new head coach, Dallas Eakins, fitness requirements.

“I just did some sprint work and stuff and tweaked my diet a little bit,” Eager said. “I feel good. I think I lost about 15 pounds. I feel good out there and my endurance is a little better. I just wanted to show up in good shape and try to get my job back.”

A job on the Oilers bottom two lines is Eager’s to lose. The key is proving to Eakins and the rest of the coaching staff that he can still be an effective big-bodied, physical presence.

“It was nice to get a new coach and have a new start,” Eager said. “Everything I’ve heard about Dallas has been positive. I know guys that have played for him and they have nothing but good things to say about him. I’m excited, I know I can play in this league and contribute. I just pushed myself a bit harder to show up in good shape and show the management and the coach that I can be useful here.”

Signed as free-agent three years ago, Eager had has trouble gaining traction with the Oilers.

In both of his previous two seasons, Eager suffered early concussions, which set him back.

He was run into the end boards by a prospect at the Joey Moss Cup, intra-squad game in his first year, then suffered a concussion in the season opener against the Canucks last season during a fight with Zack Kasian.

“It was tough to start the year off with another concussion last season,” Eager said. “But at one point I thought I was playing well. There was a little stretch there and then some guys came back and I struggled for a bit and got sent down.”

“My goal this year is to show up and work hard every day,” Eager said. “I want to be positive and be a good teammate and contribute to the team any way I can.”

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717272 Florida Panthers

Late scoring surge by Panthers falls short

By Travis L. Brown

Special to the Miami Herald

DALLAS -- After sputtering for the majority of the game, the Panthers’ offense quickly sparked into action in the third quarter, tallying two goals in 14 seconds to tie the score at two.

The extra frame wasn’t enough to decide the game, which ultimately went to Dallas 3-2 by way of a shootout.

The Panthers managed just 12 shots through two periods against the tandem of Dallas goaltenders starter Kari Lehtonen and Christopher Nilstorp. The second period saw just four Panther shots fall on target.

However, center Drew Shore ignited the Panther spark, scoring 16 minutes into the third period. Shore saw both sides of emotion in the game as he drew the penalty that led to the Stars’ first goal.

“Certainly anytime you’re in the box and they score it isn’t a good feeling,” Shore said. “We battled back and that’s important because it shows we have a lot of character in that room and I think that, especially in the preseason, that’s something that’s very important.”

Florida tied the score 14 seconds later when right wing Scottie Upshall placed the puck in the top of Dallas’ net with a Star defender draped on him. Upshall’s goal in the slot was set up by a pass from center Jessie Winchester.

Before the late-game rally, Florida managed only two real scoring opportunities in the game.

One of the Panthers two prime scoring chances came late in the first period on a close-range shot by Upshall spinning around from behind the net.

The goal attempt buried itself into the Star logo on Lehtonen’s chest with 1:09 left in the first frame.

Center Quinton Howden gave Florida its next best chance halfway through the third, squeezing through two Dallas defenders to create a short break away. His quick wrister was knocked away by the blocker of Nilstorp.

After registering just six shots in the first period, Dallas drew first blood late in the second on a quick shot from the slot by center Cody Eakin.

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar developed the play by coasting the blue line and feeding winger Ray Whitney in the Stars’ offensive corner. Whitney whipped a pass into the middle of the ice to Eakin who buried the goal on a power play for hooking by center Drew Shore.

The Stars added their second of the night just 30 seconds later, on a wrister off the stick of left wing Jamie Benn over the glove of Panther goalie Jacob Markstrom. The score was set up by new Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin and winger Alex Chiasson.

Both Florida shooters, right wing Brad Boyes and center and second-round draft pick Aleksander Barkov failed to beat Stars’ goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp in the shootout, while both Star shooters, Alex Chiasson and Jamie Benn found twine.

Despite allowing two goals, Markstrom had an excellent game, capped off by killing a 4-on-3 Dallas powerplay in overtime.

Markstrom faced 30 shots on the night.

“I thought he was awesome,” Shore said. “Especially in the 4-on-3 at the end of the game, I thought he was phenomenal. He gave us a chance to win the game.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 09.19.2013

717273 Florida Panthers

Stars edge Panthers 3-2 in shootout

The Associated Press

DALLAS -- Alex Chiasson and Jamie Benn scored shootout goals to give the Dallas Stars a 3-2 preseason victory over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.

Dallas backup goalie Christopher Nilstrop stopped both Panthers attempts in the shootout. Chiasson and Benn both had beaten Florida's Jacob Markstrom.

Dallas scored twice in the second period and Florida tied it with two goals in the third.

Florida tied it on goals by Drew Shore and Scottie Upshall 14 seconds apart with less than 4 minutes remaining in the third period, beating Nilstrop. Upshall's goal was his third of the preseason.

Cody Eakin and Benn had scored 30 seconds apart for the Stars at 17:00 and 17:30 of the second period. Dallas outshot the Panthers 30-24.

Miami Herald LOADED: 09.19.2013

717274 Florida Panthers

New York businessman leading group purchasing Florida Panthers

By Barry Jackson and George Richards

Vincent “Vinnie” Viola, a prominent New York businessman and former minority owner of the NBA’s Nets, is leading a group in completing a deal to purchase the Florida Panthers from Palm Beach businessman Cliff Viner, an industry source said Wednesday.

Letters of intent have been executed, but the transaction still needs to be signed and approved by the NHL. The source said it’s conceivable the deal could fall through, but both sides want to make it happen.

The sale price is $230 million, and Viola is buying out several of the team’s minority owners. Last season, Forbes had placed the franchise’s value at $170 million.

The Panthers are expected to remain in South Florida; the team’s lease with the Broward County-owned BB&T Center runs through 2028.

Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, which operates the arena, is the profitable arm of the Florida Panthers family of companies and is said to be part of the transaction.

The team had no comment after the New York Post first reported a group of unidentified New York-based investors were buying the team. The Panthers have been losing more than $20 million per season in recent years, the source said.

A source close to the team confirmed the sale was in the works and said general manager Dale Tallon has been telling players interested in coming to the Panthers — such as former All-Star goalie Tim Thomas — that a new owner would be in place soon.

An announcement could be coming in the next few weeks.

Captain Ed Jovanovski, who said he heard reports of a new owner on a “weekly” basis while with the Phoenix Coyotes, said word of a new owner shouldn’t affect the team at all.

“For the most part, you have a bunch of guys who just want to play hockey,” Jovanovski said. “Whatever happens on the ownership side will be taken care of by the executives in place. I think for us, we just wait and see. We’re trying to be in the right frame of mind for the start of the season.

“But someone new coming in must be eager to take over the team. You have to look at that as a positive. We’ll see.

“Anytime you have an ownership group that wants to win and wants to spend money, that’s exciting for a player.”

Viola is a successful commodities dealer who previously was chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and is now chairman of Virtu Financial, an electronic commodities trading company.

He was a minority owner of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets — of which Brett Yormark, twin brother of Panthers’ president Michael, is CEO — several years ago but is no longer, according to the team.

Military years

Viola was born in Brooklyn in 1956, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1977 and served as an officer in the 101st Airborne. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 1982 before leaving the Army Reserve as a major in 1993.

Viola and his wife, Teresa, now live in Manhattan after raising three sons in New Jersey.

According to the Nets’ media guide, Viola joined the New York Mercantile Exchange as a local trader after leaving the army. He became a member of the exchange in 1982, the same year he graduated from New York Law School. He was the company’s chairman from 2001 to 2004 and helped the exchange through the turmoil of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Leah McGrath Goodman’s 2011 book, The Asylum: The Renegades Who Hijacked the World’s Oil Market, offers details about Viola and the New York Mercantile Exchange when he was chairman there.

“Viola was perhaps the handsomest of all the exchange chairmen, but beneath the spit and polish he was still a tough guy from Brooklyn,” Goodman wrote. “… After becoming a local in the NYMEX gasoline pit, he finally found his niche. He compared trading to being in an army platoon.”

Goodman wrote Viola “had a nasty temper, but [predecessor chairman Lou] Guttman says he didn’t lose control of his emotions easily.”

In the book, Guttman said Viola “exuded leadership. His personality was amazing. He drew people in. He was a phenomenal speaker. Even if he didn’t know what he was talking about, he sounded like he knew what he was saying. He was an astute businessman and an extreme opportunist.”

Goodman wrote that Viola, the son of a truck driver, “set up a dojo in his office to study kung fu” and that his fondest wish, according to a former associate, “was to be ambassador to Italy or to the Vatican.”

Street-smart

In the book, interviewee Ben Kaufman, the son of a big oil trader who interned at NYMEX, said Viola “was the street-smart Italian guy, always with a bunch of Brooklyn and Staten Island kids hanging around him. Vinnie had the influence and the intimidation factor going for him. … He dressed and acted like a Mafioso don.”

Viola has received numerous awards for his philanthropy. He gave $2 million to Fordham University to establish the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Chair in Catholic Theology. After the Sept. 11 attacks, he financed the Counter-Terrorism Center at West Point.

He also co-founded the National Children’s Educational Reform Foundation, which is dedicated to the improvement of inner-city education with an emphasis on bilingual programs in immigrant communities.

Viner, who has helped the Florida Panthers foundation raise a considerable amount of money for charity, took over the Panthers along with Stu Siegel from Alan Cohen in 2009. Viner became the sole general partner a year later.

Recent sales

The Panthers would be the latest NHL franchise to change hands in recent months as Phoenix and New Jersey — both struggling financially — have new ownership groups.

“I’m going to let this play out,” coach Kevin Dineen said.

“Nothing has been finalized or anything like that. Like everyone else, I’ll wait and see what happens.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 09.19.2013

717275 Florida Panthers

NEW OWNER IN SUNRISE? Vinnie Viola Working on Buying Florida Panthers

By George Richards

Vincent “Vinnie” Viola, a prominent New York businessman and former minority owner of the NBA’s Nets, is leading a group in finalizing a deal to purchase the Florida Panthers from Palm Beach businessman Cliff Viner, an industry source said Wednesday.

Letters of intent have been executed, but the transaction still needs to be signed and approved by the NHL. The source said it’s conceivable the deal could fall through, but both sides want to make it happen.

The Panthers are expected to remain in South Florida; the team’s lease with the Broward County-owned BB&T Center runs through 2028.

Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, which operates the arena, is the profitable arm of the Florida Panthers family of companies and is said to be part of the transaction.

The team had no comment after the New York Post first reported a group of New York-based investors were buying the team.

A source close to the team confirmed the sale was in the works and said general manager Dale Tallon has been telling players interested in coming to the Panthers -- such as former All-Star goalie Tim Thomas -- that a new owner would be in place soon.

An announcement could be coming in the next few weeks.

Captain Ed Jovanovski, who said he heard reports of a new owner on a "weekly" basis while with the Phoenix Coyotes, said word of a new owner shouldn't affect the team at all.

"For the most part, you have a bunch of guys who just want to play hockey,'' Jovanovski said. "Whatever happens on the ownership side will be taken care of by the executives in place. I think for us, we just wait and see. We're trying to be in the right frame of mind for the start of the season.

"But someone new coming in must be eager to take over the team. You have to look at that as a positive. We'll see. Anytime you have an ownership group that wants to win and wants to spend money, that's exciting for a player.''

Viola is a successful commodities dealer who previously was chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and is now chairman of Virtu Financial, an electronic commodities trading company.

He was a minority owner of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets -- of which Brett Yormark, twin brother of Panthers' president Michael, is CEO -- several years ago but is no longer, according to the team.

Viola was born in Brooklyn in 1956, graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1977 and served as an officer in the 101st Airborne. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 1982, before leaving the Army Reserve as a major in 1993.

Viola and his wife, Teresa, now live in Manhattan after raising three sons in New Jersey.

According to the Nets’ media guide, Viola joined the New York Mercantile Exchange as a local trader after leaving the army. He became a member of the exchange in 1982, the same year he graduated from New York Law School. He was the company’s chairman from 2001 to 2004 and helped the exchange through the turmoil of the 9-11 attacks.

Leah McGrath Goodman’s 2011 book, “The Asylum: The Renegades Who Hijacked the World’s Oil Market,” offers details about Viola and the New York Mercantile Exchange when he was chairman there.

“Viola was perhaps the handsomest of all the exchange chairmen, but beneath the spit and polish he was still a tough guy from Brooklyn,” Goodman wrote. “…After becoming a local in the NYMEX gasoline pit, he finally found his niche. He compared trading to being in an army platoon.”

Goodman wrote Viola “had a nasty temper, but [predecessor chairman Lou] Guttman says he didn’t lose control of his emotions easily.”

In the book, Guttman said Viola “exuded leadership. His personality was amazing. He drew people in. He was a phenomenal speaker. Even if he didn’t know what he was talking about, he sounded like he knew what he was saying. He was an astute businessman and an extreme opportunist.”

Viola has received numerous awards for his philanthropy. He gave $2 million to Fordham University to establish the Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Chair in Catholic Theology. After the 9-11 attacks, he financed the Counter-Terrorism Center at West Point. Viola has received numerous awards for his philanthropy.

He also co-founded the National Children's Educational Reform Foundation, which is dedicated to the improvement of inner-city education with an emphasis on bilingual programs in immigrant communities.

Viner, who has helped the Florida Panthers foundation raise a considerable amount of money for charity, took over the Panthers along with Stu Siegel from Alan Cohen in 2009. Viner became the sole general partner a year later.

Aside from Viner, Florida's minority owners include Cohen, H. Wayne Huizenga, Mike Maroone, Bernie Kosar and Jordan Zimmerman. Some or all of Florida's current ownership group could retain a piece of the franchise when the new group comes in.

The Panthers would be the latest NHL franchise to change hands in recent months as Phoenix and New Jersey -- both struggling financially -- have new ownership groups.

"I'm going to hold off right now,'' coach Kevin Dineen said. "I'm going to let this play out. Nothing has been finalized or anything like that. Like everyone else, I'll wait and see what happens.''

Miami Herald LOADED: 09.19.2013

717276 Florida Panthers

Panthers' sale offers needed fresh start

If approved, Viola needs to bring stability and money

Dave Hyde Sun Sentinel Columnist

6:59 p.m. EDT, September 18, 2013

The fact that Tim Thomas began practicing with the Panthers is as good a place to start as any. Thomas is 39. He spent a year out of hockey. He still brings a championship ring and veteran goaltending help to a team needing both.