NHL ROUNDUP : Panthers Win One for MacLean

Scott Mellanby scored two goals as the Florida Panthers capitalized on the power play in defeating Calgary, 4-3, Sunday night at Miami to give new Coach Doug MacLean his first NHL victory.

“I hope the second one is not as tough as the first one,” MacLean quipped about the victory. “We bounced back after trailing. It was a good win.”

Stu Barnes also had two assists and scored the winning goal for the Panthers--their first victory in a home opener for the third-year franchise.

The victory was bittersweet for fans, though, as Florida owner Wayne Huizenga has said he may move the team out of state next season if the Panthers can’t get a new lease at the Miami Arena.

Calgary’s Theoren Fleury had a goal and two assists for the Flames.

Fleury made a final attempt to tie the score on a shot with about 20 seconds left, but John Vanbiesbrouck smothered the puck for the final margin.

“I think we were extremely fancy out there,” Calgary Coach Pierre Page said. “I think Florida capitalized on it. We had no identity.”

Florida did lose defenseman Magnus Svensson in the first period when he was tripped by Calgary’s Ron Stern. He will be out three to six weeks because of a strained left knee.

MacLean has promised the Panthers will be more aggressive offensively and it showed Sunday night as Florida outshot last year’s Pacific Division champions 25-22.

Detroit 3, Edmonton 1--Steve Yzerman scored once and assisted on the game-winning goal as the Red Wings spoiled the Oiler home opener.

The Red Wings broke the game open with two goals 13 seconds apart in the third period. Yzerman set up forward Tim Taylor at 6:01 when they were left unattended in front of the Edmonton net. Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom scored his second of the season at 6:14 to seal the victory.

En route to a season-opening defeat, the Oilers also lost linchpin Jason Arnott.

“The turning point came when Arnott went out, that really quieted the crowd and set their team back,” said Yzerman. “When that magnitude of a player goes down with that kind of injury, it took the wind out of their sails.”

Arnott was felled in the second period when a blistering slap shot from Oilers defenseman Jiri Slegr ricocheted off a Detroit defender’s stick.

The puck struck Arnott--the team’s first-line right wing--above the left eye with a sickening thud audible throughout the arena, cutting him for 25 stitches and producing a severe concussion.

Arnott could be out of the lineup two weeks and will be lost for the team’s five-game trip beginning Tuesday in St. Louis.

“I thought he was dead,” said teammate Doug Weight, who was beside Arnott when he was struck. “It was kind of scary, we missed his presence. It was tough until we heard he was OK.”