Senators 3 - 1 Panthers
Final
  for this game

Sens visit Panthers trying to keep perfect record intact

Jan 24, 2013 - 3:58 PM (Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators will shoot for their first 3-0 start to a season since 2007-08 when they visit the Florida Panthers for Thursday's battle at BB&T Center.

The Senators have notched a pair of decisive victories to begin this season and the most recent one came at home Monday against Florida. This is not a home-and-home series, however, since the Panthers played Montreal in between the two meetings with the Sens.

Ottawa only has allowed one goal this season and that came in a season-opening 4-1 triumph in Winnipeg. The Senators posted a 4-0 victory over the Panthers as Craig Anderson made 31 saves for the shutout at Scotiabank Place.

"My job is just to look forward and give the team an opportunity to win," Anderson said. "I just have to worry about what I can do to make the team better and keep striving to make myself better."

Kyle Turris scored twice for Ottawa while Jim O'Brien and Jakob Silfverberg also lit the lamp.

Jose Theodore allowed all four goals on 37 shots for the Panthers, who were trying to open the season with back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.

"Obviously we have to play a better road game and get a more well-rounded effort," Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen said.

The Panthers did not fare much better the following night in Montreal, losing a 4-1 decision to the Canadiens. Andrei Markov scored twice to help lift the Habs to the easy win.

Tomas Kopecky supplied the sole offense for Florida and Scott Clemmensen allowed all four goals on 33 shots. The Panthers went 1-for-8 on the power play in the loss and allowed Montreal to score on two of its six chances with the man advantage.

"It was a special-teams game tonight, but we weren't good," Dineen said. "If you give up that many chances against a team with speed, you're going to have them capitalize."

The Panthers had lost nine straight against the Senators before recording a home win to end the season series on March 4 of last season. Ottawa has won six of the last eight encounters in Sunrise.






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