2 players ejected after 2 fights break out in 1st period of opener between Panthers, Stars

DALLAS - Antoine Roussel and Ryan Garbutt of the Dallas Stars, and Dmitry Kulikov of the Florida Panthers have been ejected in the first period of the season opener.

All three players received game misconducts after a pair of fights broke out near the Panthers net on Thursday night.

Mike Weaver, who got a fighting penalty but wasn't ejected, shoved Roussel when the Dallas forward kept poking at the puck in the pads of goalie Tim Thomas.

After Weaver and Roussel dropped their gloves, Kulikov and Garbutt started fighting nearby. All four players got fighting penalties, and Roussel got an extra 2 minutes for instigating.

The Panthers didn't score on the ensuing power play but got the game's first goal on a shot from the crease by Scott Gomez late in the first period.