Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis scored in regulation and converted a shootout attempt during the team’s final National Hockey League preseason game on Saturday, anchoring a busy slate of performances by Latvian players across the league as reported by LSM. The Panthers fell 3:2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home in a contest that featured fellow Latvian skaters Uvis Balinskis for Florida and Zemgus Girgensons for Tampa Bay.
Vilmanis Nets Late Equalizer and Lone Shootout Goal Against Tampa Bay
Vilmanis broke through at the end of the first period to level the score at 1:1, then stood alone as the only Panthers player to solve the opposing goaltender in the shootout. According to LSM, the 22-year-old forward logged 20 minutes and 15 seconds of ice time, registering two shots on goal, a two-minute minor penalty, five hits, and two faceoff wins out of five attempts, finishing the night with a plus-one rating. The performance arrives as Vilmanis prepares for his second professional stretch following his NHL debut last season, where he appeared in 19 games and recorded five points, consisting of three goals and two assists, as noted by Sportacentrs.com.
“We have put a tough task in front of him—jumping into the lineup, then being a reserve again—and he has dealt with it incredibly well,” Maurice said, according to Sportacentrs.com. Latvian national team head coach Harijs Vītoliņš offered high praise for the forward’s motor in an interview with Latvijas Radio reported by Sportazinas.com, calling him “a machine” and pointing to his sharp stickwork and competitive edge along the boards compared to the previous spring.
Balinskis and Girgensons Log Heavy Minutes in Preseason Clash
Uvis Balinskis anchored the Florida blue line for 24 minutes and 46 seconds against the Lightning, contributing two blocked shots and a hit while finishing with an even plus-minus rating, per LSM. Across the ice, Zemgus Girgensons skated 14 minutes and 24 seconds for Tampa Bay, recording one shot, three hits, one blocked shot, and winning six of 11 faceoffs to also finish with an even rating.
The intra-state matchup comes as the Panthers roster enters the new campaign with lofty expectations from peers. Players and captains pointed to the return of team captain Aleksandrs Barkov from a season-long knee injury, the addition of bruising forward Brady Tkachuk, and a restructured goaltending tandem featuring Swedish netminder Jacob Markström and Swiss goaltender Akira Schmid as key drivers for the reigning powerhouse.
Silovs Turns Away 23 Shots as Penguins Down Sabres
In another Saturday preseason fixture, goaltender Artūrs Šilovs backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3:1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on the road, turning aside 23 of 24 shots for a 95.8 save percentage, LSM reported. Šilovs held the Sabres scoreless until the middle of the third period, when Buffalo forward Ryan McLeod solved the Latvian netminder on a power play.
Mateiko Returns from Long-Term Injury with Strong Showing for Capitals
Forward Ēriks Mateiko made a successful return to game action for the Washington Capitals in a 5:1 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, according to LSM. Sidelined by an injury since January, Mateiko played 14 minutes and 34 seconds, recording a two-minute minor penalty, two shots on goal, two hits, two blocked shots, and winning five of nine faceoffs while finishing with a plus-one rating.
Elsewhere across the league, the Columbus Blue Jackets secured a 4:2 road win against the Detroit Red Wings. Columbus continues to manage the absence of starting goaltender Elvis Merzļikins, who remains sidelined with an injury.
Opening Night Matchups Loom as Regular Season Approaches
The Panthers are scheduled to open their campaign against the Carolina Hurricanes, renewing hostilities with the team that claimed the Stanley Cup prior to Florida’s recent championship runs. Questions remain regarding how head coach Paul Maurice will deploy his depth forwards once the full roster is entirely healthy, and whether Markström can cement the starting goaltender role behind a veteran defense corps led by newly acquired blueliner Radko Gudass.
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