(SUNRISE, FL) – FSN Florida today announced that the regional sports network will televise Florida Panthers Classic Games, a selection of ten of the all-time greatest hockey games in the team's history, (complete schedule and game descriptions follow). FSN Florida's Senior Vice President and General Manager, Jeff Genthner, made the announcement.
As the exclusive television home for Panthers hockey, FSN Florida will televise two Classic Games per week over a span of ten weeks beginning Tuesday, October 12 at 7:30 PM.
Hockey Hall of Famer and FSN's Florida Panthers' color analyst, Denis Potvin, will host each Classic Game, offering his personal account of the game's significance, provide condensed intermission reports and an end of game wrap-up segment.
"As the NHL and its players work through their contract differences, we felt this was an appropriate time to reflect back on how much excitement and enjoyment South Florida has received from its own Florida Panthers hockey team over the past 11 seasons," said Jeff Genthner, Senior Vice President and General Manager, FSN Florida. "Denis Potvin's personal look-back for each of these Florida Panthers Classic Games will provide hockey fans with Denis' unique insight as a Panthers broadcaster and Hockey Hall of Famer."
The first installment of the Florida Panthers Classic Game dates back to April 27, 1996. It was game five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins and Bill Lindsay scored a spectacular goal with only minutes left in the third period to break a 3-3 tie and give the Panthers their first-ever playoff series victory.
"Panthers Classics remind me of the many times I wished that I could have laced them up with these guys – the Rat Pack was awe inspiring. Brian Skrudland led, Mellanby, Hough, Lowry, Fitzgerald, Lindsay, Shephard attacked while Jovo, Svehla were rock solid and the Beezer became a wall. Later Pavel amazed us with world-class creative offense and now Roberto gives us spectacular goaltending with a core of youth that seems ready to spring deep into April. I am having a ball, you will too" said Denis Potvin, FSN's color analyst, Florida Panthers."
| WEEK 1 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 1 | Tuesday | October 12 | |
| Classic Game 2 | Thursday | October 14 | |
| WEEK 2 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 3 | Tuesday | October 19 | |
| Classic Game 4 | Wednesday | October 20 | |
| WEEK 3 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 5 | Tuesday | October 26 | |
| Classic Game 6 | Wednesday | October 27 | |
| WEEK 4 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 7 | Tuesday | November 2 | |
| Classic Game 8 | Friday | November 5 | |
| WEEK 5 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 9 | Wednesday | November 10 | |
| Classic Game 10 | Friday | November 12 | |
| WEEK 6 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 1 | Wednesday | November 12 | |
| Classic Game 2 | Thursday | November 18 | |
| WEEK 7 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 3 | Monday | November 22 | |
| Classic Game 4 | Tuesday | November 23 | |
| WEEK 8 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 5 | Tuesday | December 1 | |
| Classic Game 6 | Wednesday | December 2 | |
| WEEK 9 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 7 | Tuesday | December 7 | |
| Classic Game 8 | Thursday | December 9 | |
| WEEK 10 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 7 | Tuesday | December 7 | |
| Classic Game 8 | Thursday | December 9 | |
| WEEK 11 | DAY | DATE | |
| Classic Game 9 | Tuesday | December 14 | |
| Classic Game 10 | Thursday | December 16 |
Game 1: April 27, 1996
In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins, Bill Lindsay scores a spectacular goal with 4:57 left in the 3rd period to break a 3-3 tie and give the Panthers their first-ever playoff series victory.
Game 2: May 12, 1996
In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Flyers, Mike Hough scores in double OT to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead in the series. Florida eliminates the Flyers two days later in Miami.
Game 3: June 1, 1996
The Panthers go on the road and defeat the Penguins, 3-1 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to win the Prince of Wales Trophy as champions of the conference.
Game 4: April 17, 1997
Panthers win 3-0 in 1st round of the Playoffs vs. Wayne Gretzky and the NY Rangers.
Game 5: January 20, 1999
Pavel Bure scores two goals in his first game as a Panthers, leading the Cats to a 5-2 victory over the Islanders in New York.
Game 6: January 26, 1999
The Russian Rocket ignites the Cats with his first Florida hat trick. Pavel Bure's three goals forces a 3-3 tie with the Flyers. All three goals were against former Panther John Vanbiesbrouck.
Game 7: April 3, 2000
The Panthers 5-2 home victory over the Devils establishes a new franchise record of 42 wins in a season.
Game 8: April 3, 2001
Pavel Bure's shorthanded goal against Roman Cechmanek gives the Russian Rocket 59 tallies on the season, breaking his own franchise record.
Game 9: February 2, 2003
The Office Depot Center hosts the NHL All-Star Classic. Olli Jokinen scores a goal and 3 assists.
Game 10: March 11, 2004
Roberto Luongo is sensational in the net versus Montreal. He makes 20 outstanding saves
(32 total) in the 3-2 Panthers victory.
FSN Florida reaches over 5 million households in Florida. FSN Florida's programming includes Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, the University of Miami, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, The Sports List, I, Max and NASCAR. FSN Florida is managed by Rainbow Sports Networks.
Rainbow Sports Networks is a division of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Fox Sports Net reaches more than 81 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partners, equally owned by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC and Fox Entertainment Group. Rainbow Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow's 50% ownership in Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports National Advertising and the ownership and management of Fox Sports Net regional networks in five of the nation's largest markets: Chicago, San Francisco, New England, Ohio and Florida.