Panthers backup G Dan Ellis sent to San Antonio

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The Florida Panthers have assigned reserve goaltender Dan Ellis to the team's AHL affiliate in San Antonio.

The move means that, as expected, Al Montoya is set to begin the season as the backup to Florida starter Roberto Luongo.

Ellis has appeared in 204 NHL games with six different franchises, including Florida. He has a career 2.81 goals-against average, saving 90.5 percent of the shots he's faced.

Florida has two preseason games remaining, both against Tampa Bay. The Panthers host the Lightning on Thursday, then visit Tampa on Saturday. They go back to Tampa for the regular-season opener on on Oct. 9.