Final
Panthers-Senators Preview
Oct 28, 2010 - 6:20 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS WriterFlorida (3-4-0) at Ottawa (3-5-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Ottawa Senators are struggling to create momentum. They hope a record-setting performance and an offensive flurry have them headed in the right direction.
The Senators will try to win consecutive games for the first time this season when they host the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Ottawa (3-5-1) has followed its first two victories with a loss, but is attempting to put together a strong run after beating Phoenix 5-2 on Tuesday. The Senators' scoring production was a season high as Erik Karlsson and Alex Kovalev tallied 9 seconds apart early in the first period, breaking a 15-year-old club record by 1 second.
"It's only one game, but I think we made some steps," center Peter Regin told the team's official website. "We played a good game and probably our best game so far this year. Hopefully, we can build on that and keep things going and don't have a bad game (against the Panthers)."
Regin, who had two assists Tuesday, is worried that continued inconsistency could cost the Senators later in the season.
"It's important to get off to a good start," he said. "You can't lose a lot of games in the beginning - then you're gone. We still have some points and we know if we get it back on track and put some stretches together where we win games, we will be in good shape."
While the Senators are trying to put together a strong stretch, Daniel Alfredsson is enjoying one of his own. The right wing leads the team with 10 points, with nine coming in the last six games. He's netted all five of his goals - four on the power play - over the last four contests.
Alfredsson's surge isn't likely to slow down just yet. He's tallied six goals and five assists in his last nine home meetings with Florida (3-4-0).
He had two goals and two assists in three winning matchups last season, with Ottawa losing 3-0 at home without him in the only defeat Jan. 9.
The Panthers have dropped two of three and are looking to rebound from Tuesday's controversial 3-1 loss at Toronto. Backup goaltender Scott Clemmensen allowed the eventual winner midway through the third period when the Maple Leafs' Colton Orr skated into him and had the puck deflect off his skate and in.
"It's unfortunate," Peter DeBoer said. "You've got 40 guys battling hard on that ice. Games shouldn't be decided that way."
Florida, 1-3-0 on the road, will likely have Tomas Vokoun back in net trying to shake a recent funk. He's split his last two games with a 4.21 goals-against average after making 56 stops in consecutive shutouts in his previous two starts.
Vokoun has dropped six of seven starts at Ottawa with a 3.18 GAA.
Radek Dvorak is getting closer to a Panthers record, and he'll make his 567th appearance with the club, tying Olli Jokinen for second on its all-time list - seven behind Robert Svehla.
Dvorak has been vital to Florida's success thus far, as all three of his goals and his one assist have come in their three victories. He was limited to one shot by Toronto, and hasn't managed a point in 12 meetings with Ottawa.
- -------------------------------------------
Florida
1 0 2 --3
Ottawa 0 3 2 --5
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FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Florida, Bryan McCabe 1 (power play)
(Dennis Wideman, David Booth), 10:02. Penalties: N Foligno, Ott
(goaltender interference), 9:20; R Dvorak, Fla (holding), 11:16.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Ottawa, Milan Mic
Oct 28 9:22 PM - -------------------------------------------
Florida
1 0 2 --3
Ottawa 0 3 2 --5
-------------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Florida, Bryan McCabe 1 (power play)
(Dennis Wideman, David Booth), 10:02. Penalties: N Foligno, Ott
(goaltender interference), 9:20; R Dvorak, Fla (holding), 11:16.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Ottawa, Milan Mic
Oct 28 9:21 PM - --------------------------------------
Florida
1 0 --1
Ottawa 0 3 --3
--------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Florida, Bryan McCabe 1 (power play)
(Dennis Wideman, David Booth), 10:02. Penalties: N Foligno, Ott
(goaltender interference), 9:20; R Dvorak, Fla (holding), 11:16.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Ottawa, Milan Michalek 4 (shorthanded
Oct 28 8:28 PM - ---------------------------------
Florida
1 --1
Ottawa 0 --0
---------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Florida, Bryan McCabe 1 (power play)
(Dennis Wideman, David Booth), 10:02. Penalties: N Foligno, Ott
(goaltender interference), 9:20; R Dvorak, Fla (holding), 11:16.
Shots on goal:
---------------------------------
Florida 4 --4
Ottaw
Oct 28 7:37 PM
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