Saturday, September 30, 2000
Blue Jackets lose visit to Gardens
8,211 watch Florida top Columbus 3-0
By John P. Wise
Enquirer contributor
The Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets so soundly you could have heard a bee buzzing around inside Cincinnati Gardens Friday night before 8,211 fans.
Not that the Blue Jackets played terribly in their 3-0 exhibition loss, but the Panters easily left Cincinnati with the same distinction they had before coming here: A team far superior to Columbus. The Blue Jackets begin their inaugural NHL season next week, as do the Minnesota Wild.
Marc Denis did an admirable job goaltending for Columbus. He and the Blue Jackets' defense shut out Florida's potent front line of Pavel Bure, Rob Niedermayer and Igor Larionov until Bure assisted on a late emp ty-net goal. But the more impressive shutout came from Roberto Luongo, 21.
The goalie stopped all 34 shots he faced, including an acrobatic save of what appeared to be a gimme for Columbus' David Vyborny with 3:13 remaining to preserve the shutout.
He'll give Trevor Kidd a good fight for Florida's No.1 goaltending spot.
“In my mind, I'm not fighting against Trevor,” Luongo said. “I'm just trying to go out and play well and show the organization they won't regret acquiring me (from the New York Islanders).”
The Panthers got a pair of goals from Paul Laus and Mike Sillinger in the opening period and played stingy defense the rest of the way.
“We had a couple of defensive breakdowns and didn't finish on offense,” Columbus coach Dave King said. The Blue Jackets also failed to convert any of their seven power-play chances. Other than that, King enjoyed the brief visit to Cincinnati.
“It's a great facility here,” he said. “It's a nice rink to play in; we had a good crowd and it was overall a nicely hosted game.”
Florida ....... 2 0 1—3
Columbus ....... 0 0 0—0
First period: Fla, Laus 1 (Worrell, Ratchuk) 7:47; Fla, Shvidki 4 (Sillinger, Novoseltsev) 17:51.
Second period: No scoring.
Third period: Fla, Laus (2) 2 (Bure) 18:50 (eng).
Shots on goal: Fla, 8-8-6-22; Col, 14-7-13
21. Power plays: Fla, 0-for-2; Col, 0-for-7. Goalies: Fla, Luongo (34 saves); Col, Denis (59:40; 21 shots, 19 saves).
Attendance: 8,211.
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