NHL ROUNDUP : Panthers Lose Home Opener, 2-1

As 14,372 fans cheered the final strains of the national anthem, the lights came up in Miami Arena, hockey’s newest home. The expansion Florida Panthers made their home debut Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins and lost, 2-1, but it hardly diminished the enthusiasm.

A 30-minute pregame ceremony featured dancing skaters, skating dancers, lasers, a live panther and team owner H. Wayne Huizenga, who mistakenly introduced team President Bill Torrey as “the president of the Florida Marlins!”

In other games, Philadelphia defeated Buffalo, 5-3, New Jersey Davils defeated Winnipeg, 7-4, for its fourth victory in a row, and Dallas and Chicago tied, 3-3.