Thunder’s Bourne not about to panic over loss

Tim Graham

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998 | 11:02 a.m.

First-year Las Vegas Thunder head coach Bob Bourne has two words for players and fans alike: Don't panic.

The Thunder will have a chance to rebound from an ugly, season-opening defeat to the Houston Aeros when the International Hockey League teams meet again at the Thomas & Mack Center tonight at 7:05 p.m.

The Thunder was beaten 7-3 by the Aeros at the T&M Saturday night.

"It's just one hockey game out of 82," Bourne said. "We can't go in the tank right away if things don't go our way this early in the season. I'm confident, with the guys we've assembled, things will go our way."

In the opener, Thunder goaltender Scott Langkow gave up six goals on 17 shots in less than two periods. He was lifted in favor of backup Konstantin Simchuk, who stopped 16 of 17 shots the rest of the way.

Langkow, sent to Las Vegas by the Phoenix Coyotes last week, will start again tonight.

"That lineup's good enough to win," Bourne said. "But what I hope you'll see (tonight) is our defensive coverage will be better. We gave them a lot of 2-on-1 opportunities and left a lot of open guys in our end as a result of our guys trying to do too much."

Bourne claimed the Thunder will need time to realize its identity. Only three regular players remain from last year's squad.

"I'm not worried about our effort," Bourne said. "We just have to get used to playing together and used to a couple of new systems I've put in. It's a matter of throwing all the names in a hat and seeing what happens.

"A lot of these guys have been around and they shouldn't have a lot of problems picking up what we want to do."