After beating the New Jersey Devils 3-0 Saturday to take a 3-to-2 lead in the first round series, the Panthers took Sunday off.
Coach Kevin Dineen, the former Philadelphia Flyers player who's been instrumental in Florida's success this season, went fishing on his day off.
The Panthers returned to the practice ice on Monday and tonight, the Panthers will be fishing for a clinching victory in the best-of-seven series.
Center Shawn Matthias says the Panthers don't care if they bring the series back to Sunrise for a seventh game. The team would gladly wrap up the series tonight in Newark.
Face-off for tonight's game is at 7:30.
In other state sports news...
- The NFL Draft is just two days away and the Miami Dolphins, who have the eighth overall pick, are giving up on the player they took with the 32nd overall pick in the 2008 draft. Miami cut Phillip Merling Monday after the defensive end registered only seven tackles over the past two seasons.
- Sam Cassell Jr. will not be following in the footsteps of his famous father. Cassell, Jr. signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Maryland on Monday. Cassell chose Maryland over the University of South Florida, Villanova and his dad's alma mater, Florida State. Cassell played in the NBA and is now an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards.
- The college baseball rankings came out Monday and Baseball America has Florida State number-one this week. Florida is fifth. UCF is 14th and Miami dropped from 12th to 22nd after getting swept by the Seminoles over the weekend.
- The Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League have signed former Gator quarterback Chris Leak. The Preds host Philadelphia Saturday night.
