Makeshift Panthers Put up a Fight, But Senators Solidify Playoff Position
The Florida Panthers had eight players who had played in the AHL — or were on their way before being […] This article: Makeshift Panthers Put up a Fight, But Senators Solidify Playoff Position originally appeared on Florida Hockey Now.
Screenshot The Florida Panthers had eight players who had played in the AHL — or were on their way before being picked up — in their lineup Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators. Yet, despite going down a couple goals in the first period, the Panthers continued to show the fight they have in many a game in this rough end to the season. With the Senators in a fight for a playoff spot, however, Ottawa was not going to be denied in this one.
The Senators won for the fourth time in their past five games with a 5-1 win over the Panthers. Florida has lost its past four games (0-3-1) since beating the Bruins in Sunrise last Thursday. Gus Forsling was the only Opening Night defenseman in the lineup for the Panthers after Dmitry Kulikov and Seth Jones went down with injury on Tuesday night .
Although two of Florida’s defensemen were making their NHL debut in Ottawa, the Panthers did not let the homestanding Senators get too many Grade-A chances at Sergei Bobrovsky . Ottawa got its first goal off a power play with Forsling in the penalty box, then added a second for a 2-0 lead going into the second. Bobrovsky stopped all five shots faced in the second to keep it 2-0 going into the third.
The Senators, who lost to the Panthers 6-3 last week in Sunrise, pushed their lead to 3-0 early in the third and scored three in the final period. With the win, Ottawa helped solidify its playoff spot with the Sabres beating the Blue Jackets in Buffalo. Linus Ullmark , who got pulled in Sunrise last week after giving up five goals, made 21 saves in the win.