Panthers Look For Third Win Saturday Night
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MIAMI (AP) -- Off to a strong start on their five-game trip, the Florida Panthers remain cautiously optimistic while trying to move into playoff position.
They'll look for a third win as they hit the midpoint on the trek Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators.
Florida (26-19-12) dropped three straight before opening the trip with consecutive 3-2 victories at Toronto and Montreal. The latter was decided Thursday in a six-round shootout after the Panthers overcame a 2-0 deficit with goals from Tomas Fleischmann and Steven Kampfer.
"No matter what the score is, we believe in our chances to win the game," said Roberto Luongo, who made 37 saves and allowed one goal in the shootout.
In search of their first postseason appearance since 2011-12, the Panthers are in a tight battle with Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves," said Luongo, who has a 1.80 goals-against average during a 4-1-2 stretch. "We realize we're in the thick of things, which is exciting and fun for our group."
The manner in which Florida prevailed Thursday has the potential to be a defining moment in their playoff push, but one the club can't get too caught up in.
"It gets us that (much) closer to the spot we want to be," coach Gerard Gallant told the Panthers' official website. "We're playing well, (but) we've got three more tough games on the road trip."
The Panthers visit Pittsburgh and Chicago to conclude the road stretch.
Florida, which has yielded two goals in six consecutive contests, can match a season high with its third consecutive road victory.
The Panthers split this season's first two meetings with the Senators (23-23-10), both at home by one-goal margins. Florida snapped an 0-6-1 skid at Ottawa with a 4-2 victory last season.
Fleischmann has a goal and nine assists in his last 14 games against the Senators, who are amid a 3-1-1 stretch following Wednesday's 4-2 victory over the Canadiens.
Mark Stone had a goal with two assists and Andrew Hammond made 42 saves to earn his first win in his first career start and third appearance.
"When you see a goalie like that come up from the minors, and he's been here for two-plus weeks, with all the shots he's taken every day in practice - with everybody who stays out extra, he stands out there and helps out in whatever way he can - he's a real easy guy to cheer for, and real excited for him," coach Dave Cameron told the Senators' official website.
Hammond likely will start again in place of Robin Lehner, who suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's 6-3 loss to Carolina. Starter Craig Anderson, who was in net for both previous meetings with Florida, remains out with a hand injury.
Stone has five goals and 13 assists in his last 17 games but was blanked in the first two against the Panthers.
Riding a five-game point streak, teammate Erik Karlsson has two assists in each of the last four and seven with a goal in eight career home contests versus Florida.
Luongo has won six straight at Ottawa, and posted a 1.60 GAA during the last five that came with Vancouver. He made 22 saves in a 1-0 loss to the Senators on Oct. 13.
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