Florida

RECAP: Avalanche 3, Panthers 1 | Florida Panthers

Published

12 months ago

January 7, 2025

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RECAP: Avalanche 3, Panthers 1 | Florida Panthers

By finishing off the give-and-go, Verhaeghe netted his 10^th goal of the campaign.

“He made an awesome pass, really deceptive,” Verhaeghe said of Lundell’s set-up dish.

Starting the second period on the penalty kill, the Panthers held Colorado’s vaunted power play to just two shots on goal. Later in the period, the Panthers got the job done once again with another stalwart showing on the penalty kill, this time surrendering zero shots on goal.

Despite taking the ice without two of their top defensemen and penalty killers in Ekblad and Mikkola, who are both sidelined by injuries, the Panthers went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

“I think we did a good job,” forward Eetu Luostarinen said of the team’s work while shorthanded. “We know they have a lot of guys that can make plays and score. I think we didn’t give them too much time and space.”

Evening the score for Colorado, Devon Toews fired a shot through traffic that went off the cross bar, hit Sergei Bobrovsky’s back and then fluttered into the net to make it 1-1 at 18:18.

A grinder of a second period, the two teams combined for just five shots at 5-on-5.

After being shut down on the power play once again early in the third period, the Avalanche found the go-ahead goal they needed at even strength. Notching his second goal of the game, Toews found the back of the net with another point shot to make it 2-0 at 8:54.

From there, Bobrovsky and Blackwood went save for save for several minutes.

A great goaltending battle, Bobrovsky finished with 31 saves, while Blackwood made 26.

“He’s our wall back there,” Verhaeghe said of Bobrovsky. “I can’t say enough.”

Sealing the win for Colorado, Miko Rantanen made it 3-1 with an empty-net goal at 18:03.

“I think it was a tight game, a 2-1 game,” Verhaeghe said of the third period. “It’s a game we’re used to playing in. The last time game we got the better of it. It just took one break. We had our chances and looks to get back into the game or to tie it up. It didn’t go for us.”

THEY SAID IT

“We supported pretty well, moved the puck pretty well. Both team’s penalty kill was really strong. It was going to be a tight game.” – Paul Maurice

“It was kind of back-and-forth of a game. We had our chances, but they capitalized on one, which was kind of the difference. Yeah, we’re comfortable playing in those games. We usually pull it out.” – Carter Verhaeghe

CATS STATS

– Aleksander Barkov went 8-for-13 (61.5%) in the face-off circle.

– Dmitry Kulikov blocked a team-high three shots.

– Tobias Bjornfot saw 15:29 of ice time in his season debut.

– Sergei Bobrovsky made 10 high-danger saves, per NaturalStatTrick.com.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Panthers will close the book on their two-game road trip with their first-ever trip to Salt Lake City for a matchup against the Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.

To find a place to watch the game in South Florida, click HERE.

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Florida

Preview: December 19 at Florida | Carolina Hurricanes

Published

2 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Preview: December 19 at Florida | Carolina Hurricanes

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Carolina Hurricanes will try to move their win streak to six on Friday when they take on the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

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When: Friday, Dec. 19

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET

Watch: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network App | Learn More

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

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Canes Record: 22-9-2 (46 Points, 1st – Metropolitan Division)

Canes Last Game: 4-1 Win over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, Dec. 17

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Panthers Record: 18-13-2 (38 Points, 5th – Atlantic Division)

Panthers Last Game: 3-2 Win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, Dec. 17

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Florida football’s Tank Hawkins announces entry into transfer portal

Published

14 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Florida football’s Tank Hawkins announces entry into transfer portal

Florida football receiver Tank Hawkins announced Wednesday through social media that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, bringing his time in Gainesville to a close after two seasons with the Gators.

Hawkins thanked Gator Nation on a social media post, accompanied by a graphic that reflected on his journey with the Orange and Blue and confirmed his decision to explore new opportunities.

The sophomore wideout’s announcement makes him one of the latest Florida players to enter the portal during the winter window.

A former four-star recruit out of IMG Academy, Hawkins arrived in Gainesville as part of Florida’s 2024 recruiting class.

Florida’s roster continues to see movement as the program navigates the offseason, with departures and additions expected to reshape the depth chart ahead of the 2026 season.

Hawkins’ career at Florida

Hawkins appeared in 11 total games during his two seasons with the Gators, contributing as both a receiver and occasional ball carrier.

As a true freshman in 2024, he played in seven games and recorded 10 receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown, while adding three rushing attempts for 11 yards. He caught a 36-yard touchdown against Samford, which marked his first collegiate reception.

In 2025, Hawkins appeared in just four games. He finished the season with two receptions for 16 yards.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

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Florida man set to be executed for killing 2 during a home invasion – WTOP News

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Florida man set to be executed for killing 2 during a home invasion – WTOP News

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during home invasion robbery and later…

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during home invasion robbery and later confessing to three other killings is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening.

Frank Athen Walls, 58, is set to receive a lethal injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke. Walls was convicted of two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, burglary and theft and sentenced to death in 1988. The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial, and Walls was again convicted and sentenced to death in 1992.

It would be Florida’s 19th death sentence carried out in 2025, further extending a state record for total executions in a single year.

According to court records, Walls broke into the Florida Panhandle mobile home of Eglin Air Force Base airman Edward Alger and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson, in July 1987. Walls tied the couple up, but Alger managed to break free and attack Walls. Walls cut Alger’s throat and them shot him in the head when the airman continued to fight. Walls then went to attack Peterson and shot her as she struggled.

Walls was arrested the day after the bodies were found when his roommate tipped off police about Walls’ odd behavior. During a search of the home, investigators reported finding items from the crime scene, and Walls later admitted to the killings.

After his conviction, DNA evidence linked Walls to the May 1987 rape and murder of a woman, Audrey Gygi. Walls pleaded no contest, avoiding another trial and possible death sentence. Walls also admitted responsibility for the killings of Tommie Lou Whiddon in March 1985 and Cynthia Sue Condra in September 1986 as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Attorneys for Walls filed appeals in state court claiming that his intellectual disability and other medical issues should disqualify him from execution, but the Florida Supreme Court ruled against Walls last week. Appeals were still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

A total of 46 men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and more than a dozen other people are scheduled to be put to death in 2026.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976, the highest previous annual total of Florida executions was eight in 2014. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, followed by Alabama, South Carolina and Texas with five each.

All Florida executions are conducted by lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections.

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Follow David Fischer on the social platform Bluesky: ‪@dwfischer.bsky.social‬

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