Hutsko, Noel Score Twice as Panthers Top Preds in Game 2 of Showcase

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. -Logan Hutsko and Serron Noel each scored a pair of goals to lead prospects from the Panthers to an 8-5 win over their counterparts from the Predators in their second game of the Prospect Showcase Tournament at AdventHealth Center Ice on Sunday.

"It felt great," Hutsko said of the high-scoring battle. "Yesterday, we were still building up some chemistry and it just felt like we were just kind of an inch off here and there. We found it today."
After being held off the scoresheet for the first 59 minutes of their 3-1 loss to Carolina in their first game on Saturday, the Panthers erupted for five goals in the first 20 minutes this morning.
Making himself right at home, Hutsko, who was born in nearby Tampa, got the scoring started just 1:53 after the puck dropped when he took a pass from Frederic Brunet and sent a shot past goaltender Tomas Vomacka from the top of the crease to break the ice and make it a 1-0 game.
Striking back, Philip Tomasino, a first-round pick in 2019, then pulled the Predators even when he beat goaltender Tye Austin to make it 1-1 at 4:30. But that stalemate would be short-lived as Grigori Denisenko, a first-round pick in 2018, took advantage of a screen from Justin Nachbaur and ripped home a quick shot on the power play to put the Panthers back on top 2-1 at 12:44.

Keeping with the trend of trading goals, Grant Mismash then scored for Nashville to make it a 2-2 game just 28 seconds after Denisenko's tally. But over the final nine minutes of the period, the Panthers would score three straight goals to take a commanding lead into the first intermission.
Set up by a slick pass from Justin Sourdif, Noel rifled a shot past Vomacka as he skated from the left circle into the slot to give Florida a 3-2 lead at 14:51. Back at it again, Hutsko then made it 4-2 on the man advantage when he tapped in a cross-crease feed from Nachbaur at 15:23.

Closing out an electric first frame, Eric Alarie, a camp invite who led Moose Jaw in the WHL with 10 goals last season, buried a shot from the right circle to extend Florida's lead to 5-2 at 19:41.
"Our message to them after [yesterday's loss] was to get better today, and it was obvious they all got better," coach Geordie Kinnear said. "They were relaxed, made plays and skated. I thought it was a great identity for the group. To be honest, I thought everyone played very well."
Getting the Predators back on the board in the second period, Kye Jackson picked a corner and sent a shot just over Austin's left shoulder to make it a 5-3 game at 3:07. Trimming Nashville's deficit down to just one goal, Egor Afanasyev then scored not long after to make it 5-4 at 6:54.
Midway through the middle frame, both teams replaced their goaltenders. Brady James took over for Vomacka in Nashville's crease, while Olivier Adam stepped in for Austin for Florida. Helping give the Panthers some wiggle room heading into the third period, Noel joined Hutsko in the two-goal club when he slipped behind a defender - an impressive feat for someone standing a conspicuous 6-foot-5 - and cashed in from near the left side of the net to make it 6-4 at 13:48.

"We're definitely meshing and getting better as the games go on," said Noel, a second-round pick in 2018. "I think that our line was flying today. I think the whole team is coming together as a group."
Extending the lead in the third period, Nachbaur capped off a strong overall showing with a goal off the rush to make it 7-4 at 2:35. Earning his first invite to an NHL development camp, the 21-year-old has spent four seasons in the WHL, leading Prince Albert with nine goals in 2020-21.
Known for his physicality, he also led the WHL with 62 penalty minutes this past season.
"Last game he caught my eye a couple times," Kinnear said of Nachbaur, who was on the top power-play unit today. "He had an intent to be physical and play to his identity. I thought he needed to get rewarded and to get to the net-front on the power play. He did a great job there. You earn what you get, and he earned it. He was in the blue paint and made a lot of nice little passes for goals. When someone earns something, you need to give it to them as a coach."
Following a faceoff win from Sourdif in the offensive zone, Noel managed to pick up his team-high third point of the game when he touched the puck in the slot before Henry Bowlby banged the rubber home for a goal at 9:36 to make it 8-4. Getting one back for the Predators later in the period, Cole Smith then scored on the power play to make it 8-5 with just 3:31 left in regulation.
Sitting at 1-1-0 with two games in the books, the Panthers will play their final game of the Prospect Showcase Tournament on Tuesday at against the rival Lightning at 1 p.m. ET.
"To get our first win is huge," said Hutsko, a third-round pick in 2018. "Coming into a locker room after a win is more fun than after a loss, that's for sure. I think we're just going to enjoy it and have some fun and get after it again tomorrow."

NOTES

-- The Panthers and Predators played to a draw in their post-game shootout as Denisenko (FLA) and Tomasino (NSH) scored the lone goals for their respective clubs in the skills competition.

"Deni is a great player," Hutsko said. "He plays two ways and he's very talented."
-- Spreading out the offense, 12 different players notched at least one point for the Panthers.
-- Tied with Noel for the most points in the game, Nachbaur had one goal and two assists.
"He's got a really good shot, a really great release," Hutsko said of Nachbaur. "He plays responsibly, so he's a good two-way player. I like his game."
-- Having another strong game, Sourdif chipped in a pair of assists against Nashville.
"In my opinion, he's been our best player," Noel said of Sourdif. "It's amazing to play with him. He's so skilled and sees the ice so well. Like you saw today, he's just a pleasure to play with."
-- Florida's top line of Hutsko, Denisenko and Anton Lundell combined for three goals and two assists against the Predators, while Lundell also had another great showing in the faceoff circle.
"You know what I liked about today? They were on pucks," Kinnear said of the talented trio. "They were in the blue paint. We talk a lot about seconds and thirds and puck retrievals, and I thought they were on it. When you do that, your skill is going to take over, and you could see the skill on display after that. I liked that group today."

PANTHERS LINES

Forwards
Grigori Denisenko - Anton Lundell - Logan Hutsko
Henry Bowlby - Justin Sourdif - Serron Noel
Simon Pinard - Trevor Wong - Eric Alarie
Justin Nachbaur - Connor Trenholm - Karch Bachman
Defensemen
John Ludvig - Matt Kiersted
Frederic Brunet - Max Gildon
Robert Calisti - Braden Hache
Goaltenders
Tye Austin
Olivier Adam

REMAINING TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

-- Monday, Sept. 20: Practice
-- Tuesday, Sept. 21: Panthers vs. Lightning at 1 p.m. ET
Fans can stream Tuesday's game at FloridaPanthers.com.