Florida Panthers

MIAMI -- The name of H. Wayne Huizenga's hockey franchise was unveiled yesterday.The Florida Panthers may not have the same ring as Miami Ice, but it could go a long way toward publicizing the plight of one of the most endangered animals."

With all eight playoff teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference set after Thursday's games, all that remains to be determined are the seedings and first-round matchups. Though, to hear forward Alex Ovechkin explain it, where they finish isn't weighing too heavily on the Washington Capitals. "It doesn't matter which position you are [in]," Ovechkin said after Thursday's 4-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. "It doesn't matter what's the standings right now. It's most important thing to win. Next game [is]

Opponent: Florida PanthersSite: USAir Arena, LandoverTime: 8Radio: WQSI (820 AM), WNAV (1430 AM)Outlook: The Capitals (8-3) have a four-game winning streak after beating Montreal, 5-2, Wednesday. The Panthers (7-4) also have started strong. Caps RW Pat Peake (thyroid cartilage) is out and C Kevin Kaminski (ribs) is day-to-day. Florida RW Jody Hull (ribs), Dave Lowry (knee) and D Magnus Svensson (knee) out.

1 A bear market: If you have one of the 220 state permits to hunt black bears, the season runs today through Saturday in Garrett and Allegany counties. 2 Bronco busting: Can the Patriots rebound from a 30-10 loss to San Diego with a win over 4-2 Denver, which has the last-ranked pass defense in the NFL? (8:30 p.m., ESPN) 3 Happy Harbaugh: Ravens coach John Harbaugh should be chipper when he meets the media today at 3:45 p.m. Go to baltimoresun .com /ravens shortly afterward. 4 Hockey, eh: One of the NHL's original teams, the Montreal Canadiens, hosts one of the youngest franchises, the Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m., VS)

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Center Pat Peake got his first goal of the preseason and it turned out to be the game-winner as the Washington Capitals beat the Florida Panthers, 6-3, last night.The Caps (5-1) completed their Southern trip at 3-0.NOTES: X-rays showed right wing Rob Pearson has a broken thumb on his right hand, suffered in Tuesday's game against Quebec. He will be out at least six weeks. . . . Washington's No. 1 draft choice, Nolan Baumgartner, was sent to Kamloops of the Western Hockey League.

1 A bear market: If you have one of the 220 state permits to hunt black bears, the season runs today through Saturday in Garrett and Allegany counties. 2 Bronco busting: Can the Patriots rebound from a 30-10 loss to San Diego with a win over 4-2 Denver, which has the last-ranked pass defense in the NFL? (8:30 p.m., ESPN) 3 Happy Harbaugh: Ravens coach John Harbaugh should be chipper when he meets the media today at 3:45 p.m. Go to baltimoresun .com /ravens shortly afterward. 4 Hockey, eh: One of the NHL's original teams, the Montreal Canadiens, hosts one of the youngest franchises, the Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m., VS)

BaseballSan Francisco Giants -- Renewed the contracts of coaches Bob Lillis, Wendell Kim, Dick Pole, Bobby Bonds and Bob Brenly for the 1994 season.BasketballDallas Mavericks -- Announced that Jim Durham will do TV play-by-play.Los Angeles Clippers -- Extended the contract of F Loy Vaught.Los Angeles Lakers -- Re-signed free-agent G Duane Cooper.New York Knicks -- Placed C Tim McCormick on the injured list. Signed F Bill Edwards, F Lewis Geter and F Nate Johnston.FootballLos Angeles Rams -- Signed WR Ernie Jones, who had been released Wednesday, to a three-year $1.65 million contract.

Sorry for the delay. It took me two hours to find my laptop, which was buried underneath all the wrapping paper. My daughter and I spent most of the night watching season No. 7 of The Simpsons on DVD, after we played The Simpsons' version of the old Operation game. Detect a theme here? She also received the first season of Desperate Housewives. They grow up so fast. I just gave her a Miguel Tejada chewable vitamin B-12 with her breakfast. I also had to scold my neighbor's kid earlier for having his finger jammed up his nose.

Stephen J. O'Brien, a nationally known geneticist, conservationist and expert on animal DNA, is convinced that cures for such diseases as cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer's might be locked up in our cats.O'Brien, chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, used a cat's DNA to help Canadian police solve a murder and has spent five years researching the genetics of the African cheetah.He has written extensively about cats afflicted with the feline equivalent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome and helped wildlife officials save the endangered Florida panther by breeding it with a Texas cougar.

Opponent: Florida PanthersSite: Miami ArenaTime: 3 p.m.TV/Radio: Ch. 5/WWLG (1360 AM), WTEM (570 AM)Outlook: Washington has dropped five of its past six games and four in a row. In their past two losses, the Capitals have scored just one goal, including a 2-1 defeat to Philadelphia on Wednesday. Florida enters with a four-game winning streak, including a 3-1 victory over Boston on Thursday. The Panthers have won three straight at home, with G John Vanbiesbrouck allowing just one goal apiece in two of those games.

DENVER -- The Florida Panthers, who have been complaining about a lack of respect from fans and the news media around the country, yesterday accused the NHL of giving them one more reason to feel maligned.The Panthers were steaming about an NHL order forcing them to have goalie John Vanbiesbrouck's stick retaped less than a half-hour before Tuesday night's Stanley Cup Finals opener, the biggest game in the franchise's history.A league rule says a goalie's stick cannot have any color of tape on it except white.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are happy they've seen the last of Miami Arena's roaring, rat-throwing fans, whom winger Bryan Smolinski called "those screaming doofuses."But because the Penguins couldn't also leave the Florida Panthers behind, their season has come down to one game, tonight at the Civic Arena for the Eastern Conference championship and a berth in the Stanley Cup finals against the Colorado Avalanche."It's beautiful, isn't it?" said Florida coach Doug MacLean. "That's all you want, a chance, and we've got a chance."