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National Hockey League
Ottawa 5, Florida 3
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, March 12, 2018
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Florida
Referees: Steve Kozari, Brad Watson
Linesmen: Mark Shewchyk, Libor Suchanek
Attendance: 11585
Matt Duchene and Magnus Paajarvi scored two goals each as the Ottawa Senators snapped the Florida Panthers' franchise-record eight-game home winning streak with a 5-3 victory on Monday night at the BB&T Center.

Florida's Aleksander Barkov nearly gave the Panthers their first lead of the game when he got a breakaway, shorthanded attempt with 5:51 left in the third period. But Barkov failed to fool Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson, a Broward County resident and a former Panther.

After Barkov came up empty, Duchene and Alexandre Burrows scored for Ottawa to snap a 3-3 tie.

Despite the loss, the Panthers are still firmly in playoff contention due to a 15-4-1 stretch since Jan. 30.

Florida's goals were scored by Evgenii Dadonov, who celebrated his 29th birthday with his 16th goal in his past 26 games; rookie defenseman Mike Matheson, who netted his 10th of the season; and Jonathan Huberdeau, who has a career-best 23 goals.

Anderson made 32 saves against his former team. He improved to 20-20-6 this season. In his career against the Panthers, he is 15-7-2.

Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo (20 saves) took the loss. The Panthers got second-line winger Denis Malgin back from a knee injury, which cost him seven games.

Ottawa led 2-0 after the first period. Duchene scored the first goal, taking a cross-ice pass from Mike Hoffman. Duchene took a second to settle a puck that was on edge and then whistled a high shot to the near side, past Luongo just 57 seconds into the game.

Ottawa struck again with 15:16 expired in the first as Paajarvi deflected in a shot from the point by Fredrik Claesson.

The Senators had a 12-8 first-period shot advantage on the Panthers, who had a scoring opportunity by Aaron Ekblad ring off the post. The Panthers also lost a great chance when Jonathan Huberdeau, in alone on Anderson, could not handle a pass from Malgin.

Florida got on the board with 12:36 elapsed in the second period. Nick Bjugstad's pass freed up Dadonov along the left wing. Dadonov finished the play with a high shot past Anderson's glove.

The Panthers tied the score 2-2 with just 2:32 left in the third period. Vincent Trocheck made a great move along the right boards, controlling the puck and then firing a cross-ice pass to Matheson, who beat Anderson to his glove side.

It took Ottawa just 42 seconds in the third to take a 3-2 lead. Thomas Chabot's shot from the point didn't seem like much, but it produced a long rebound straight to Paajarvi.

Florida tied the score with 4:23 expired in the third as a Vincent Trocheck pass set up Huberdeau on the door step.

Ottawa took a 4-3 lead on Duchene's second goal of the game, this one with 3:00 left in the third. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 75 seconds later to end Florida's streak.

-- Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Ottawa   Florida
Matt Duchene 2 Points Jonathan Huberdeau 2
Matt Duchene 2 Goals Jonathan Huberdeau 1
Mike Hoffman 2 Assists Vincent Trocheck 2
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Craig Anderson .921 Save Percentage Roberto Luongo .800
Craig Anderson 35 Saves Roberto Luongo 20
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Ottawa 25 5 0-2 1-1 4 34
Florida 38 3 0-1 2-2 6 36
Upcoming Games
  • Florida will play their next game at home against Boston. The Panthers have a W/L % of .529 after a win and .485 after a loss.
  • Ottawa will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay. The Senators have a W/L % of .348 after a win and .356 after a loss.