George Richards, FHN Publisher
Goalie Chris Driedger got his first game-like experience at BB&T Center as he suited up for the Florida Panthers first scrimmage of 2021, suiting up for the White team.
From a statistical standpoint, it was not a pretty night.
Driedger, who is expected to be Sergei Bobrovsky’s primary backup when ever he returns to action, gave up eight goals in a 8-1 loss to the Red.
To simulate game-time conditions, the two sides played a full 4-on-4 overtime session and finished it with a shootout.
Driedger did, some may be interested, win that.
“We weren’t too worried about the results,” Driedger said.
Regardless, Driedger said Thursday night was more about just getting back in net and getting that game-day feel again.
“Yeah, it was good to just get out there and go through a game-day routine and that was the biggest part,” Driedger said.
“I just did what I do before a game to feel good. It was good to get the first one out of the way.”
It had been a while since Driedger was on the ice for the Panthers under game conditions.
His last NHL game came on March 9 when the Panthers’ defense gave perhaps their best performance of the season in a 2-1 win at St. Louis.
Driedger was going to start in Dallas on March 12, but the NHL shut its season down before that game could be played.
Driedger did not play in the postseason bubble.
The scrimmage did not go the way Driedger would have liked as his teammates on the other side put up eight on him.
But the defense in front of him was pretty lackluster (to be nice) and Driedger said his only expectation Thursday was to get the feel of a game again.
“It is nice because it has been a while,” Driedger said. “We were in the bubble, but I didn’t play. It has been nine months now so it was good to just tell myself, mental things. Feeling the feel of the game.
“It was nice to go through the routine, have the guys together and work out the kinks in this one and get it out the way.”
The Panthers kick off their season Thursday night against the Dallas Stars and, it is starting to look like Driedger — or perhaps Sam Montembeault — could be the Opening Night starter.
***UPDATE: The NHL announced due to eight members of the Dallas Stars testing positive for COVID-19, they will not start their season until Jan. 19. So, the Panthers have a few more days to get Bobrovsky ready since the opener appears to be Jan. 19 against Chicago now.
“Guys are getting the rust off and we’re starting to work as a cohesive unit, as a team,’’ Driedger said.
“These next coming days are going to be huge for us. It will be a good opportunity to just dial in some little tweaks from last year. Our coaching staff has some new ideas they want to try out, we have some new players were are incorporating.
“We have another week to tighten things up and get the ball rolling.”
Bobrovsky has yet to participate in training camp after being put on the team’s ‘unfit to play’ list Monday.
When asked whether players on the list (due to Covid-19 sensibilities teams are not allowed to comment on why a player is not available for practice) have been skating on their own, Quenneville said they had not.
That means Bobrovsky, a creature of habit, is not believed to have been on the ice since at least last week.
Thursday night, defenseman Chase Priskie came back after missing the past two days of practice.
Bobrovsky, Patric Hornqvist, Markus Nutivaara and Juho Lammikko have not participated in a single camp practice; goalie Scott Darling joined the list on Wednesday.
“The guys who have been (seen) on the ice are the guys who have been on the ice,” Quenneville said.
As for Montembeault, he did not face the offensive assault Driedger did but looked very strong in net.
Montembeault, Florida’s third goalie during the postseason, looked very technically sound and gave up a single goal during the 65-minute scrimmage.
Noel Acciari got the only goal for the Whie squad midway through the second.
“One goalie had a really good night and one had a difficult one,” Quenneville said.
“Every game can be different, but over the course of camp, we have a lot of practicing. With Bob, we’ll see how that plays out with him.
“Right now, I think the two are pushing one another as we get closer to the first game. Montembeault really helped himself out tonight with a real good game.”
— The Panthers have Friday off but will return to the arena on Saturday for practices.
According to the team, they will practice each day until the opener on Thursday.
Because of the pandemic, all practices are closed to the public.
Single game tickets for Florida’s home games, however, go on sale Friday morning at FloridaPanthers.com.