FSN Florida Announces 2005-06 Florida Panthers Telecast Schedule

70 Panthers Games Scheduled to Air - Plus Feature Programming Including Compelling All-New INSIDE THE PANTHERS Series

SUNRISE, FL – As the Florida Panthers get set to hit the ice for another exciting season, FSN Florida and the team have announced the Panthers' 70-game regional telecast schedule for the 2005-2006 NHL regular season.

As the exclusive regional television home of the Florida Panthers, FSN Florida will air 34 home and 36 away match-ups, plus additional team-related programming including an all-new INSIDE THE PANTHERS series. Nine half-hour episodes of INSIDE THE PANTHERS are planned and will include player profiles, with rare behind-the-scenes stories and interviews, plus episodes offering inside access to other aspects of the team and its operations -- all designed to bring the fans closer to their favorite team. FSN Florida will also produce and air the FLORIDA PANTHERS PRESEASON SPECIAL , hosted by Craig Minervini and premiering Friday, September 30, at 6:00pm .

The first half-hour episode of INSIDE THE PANTHERS will feature Panther newcomers Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk. The show will air on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

In conjunction with the Panthers and the NHL, the network is exploring and expanding ways to enhance the game telecasts with non-conventional elements such as microphones on players and coaches and additional camera angles.

New to the FSN and Panthers broadcast team is TV play-by-play announcer Dave Strader, a renowned hockey personality and a seasoned veteran with over 25 years in the broadcast booth. Strader is partnered with Hockey Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup captain, color analyst, Denis Potvin. Craig Minervini returns as pre-game host and rinkside reporter.

Regular season coverage on FSN Florida begins Wednesday, October 5, with the team's home opener against Southeast Division rivals, the Atlanta Thrashers. Coverage begins at 6:30pm with a special live, opening night pre-game show followed by the game at 7:30pm. Highlights on the 2005-06 regional telecast schedule include the Cats taking on defending Stanley Cup Champs the Tampa Bay Lightning twice in the team's first three games, plus match-ups against great rivals including the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Home game telecasts and select road game telecasts will be preceded by a 30-minute on-site pre-game show, PANTHERS PREVIEW. All games televised on FSN Florida will be available to viewers in the NHL-designated Florida Panthers home television territory South and South Central Florida.