(Sports Network) - Ville Koistinen scored the winning goal in the shootout, lifting the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in the season-opener for both teams in Finland.

Koistinen, the lone Finnish skater for either squad, had the second Florida attempt in the shootout and lifted a perfect backhand shot over the glove of Chicago netminder Cristobal Huet and under the crossbar to give the Panthers a 2-1 edge in the shootout.

Tomas Vokoun then stopped Patrick Sharp's try at the other end to give the Panthers the extra point.

Vokoun made 52 saves through regulation and overtime, while Huet turned aside 21 shots.

Koistinen also scored in regulation for Florida, as did David Booth, who netted the tying goal in the closing minutes of the third period. Michael Frolik finished with a goal and an assist in the victory. The Panthers enter the 2009-10 campaign with the longest current playoff drought at eight years.

Patrick Kane posted a goal and an assist for Chicago, which is coming off a banner 2008-09 season that ended with a loss to Detroit in the Western Conference finals. Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien each scored in defeat.

"The last two periods I thought we really took it to them," said Kane. "We had a lot of shots, a lot of chances. I thought we played pretty good, just a couple breakdowns that cost us."

The teams will play again on Saturday to conclude the season-opening two-game set in Helsinki.

Chicago took its second lead of the game just 3:52 into the third period when Byfuglien banged the puck into an empty cage. Kane started the play with a shot from the low right circle that rang off the post and caromed to the top of the crease for Byfuglien.

Florida, which never led until the shootout, tied it just over 3 1/2 minutes later while skating 4-on-4, as Koistinen sent a shot from the top of the right circle past a screened Huet.

Again Chicago went in front with 8:24 to play when Sharp scored on a scramble in front of the goal mouth, but Florida tied it with 2:21 left in regulation. Booth outworked the Chicago defense for the puck, skated to the left faceoff dot and snapped a wrist shot past Huet.

The Blackhawks fired 24 shots on goal in the third period, then added five more in overtime. Sharp had the best chance just a minute into the extra session when he beat his defender down the slot, but Vokoun turned aside the backhand attempt.

Jonathan Toews opened the shootout with a goal for Chicago and Steven Reinprecht answered with a perfect shot just inside the left post for Florida.

After a scoreless first period, Kane put the Blackhawks on the board at the 5:19 mark of the second. Frolik scored with 6:59 to play in the period to tie it for Florida.

Game Notes

Each team was 0-for-3 with the power play...This two-game set marks the NHL's first regular-season venture into Finland...Chicago free-agent pickup Marian Hossa, who signed a lucrative 12-year deal in the offseason after a year with the Red Wings, is sidelined until at least November after undergoing shoulder surgery in July...The Panthers on Friday named Randy Sexton the club's new general manager. He had been overseeing the daily operations of the club since Jacques Martin left to take over the coaching duties with Montreal in June.



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