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Panthers aim to keep slim playoff hopes alive

Mar 27, 2008 - 12:52 PM Atlanta (31-38-8) at Florida (36-32-9) 7:30 pm EDT

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) - With little margin left for error, the Florida Panthers need to win now to have any chance at the postseason.

After a disappointing loss on Tuesday, the Panthers target a strong finish to the regular season when they host the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday.

Florida followed a poor finish to end February with an 8-0-1 start in March but saw its playoff hopes take a severe hit in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Eastern Conference-worst Tampa Bay.

The loss left the Panthers tied for 10th place in the conference with Buffalo, five points behind eighth-place Boston (38-28-10), which hosts Toronto on Thursday.

Down the stretch, however, the Panthers will have an opportunity to make up the necessary ground in their final five contests.

Two of those games are against ninth-place Washington (38-31-8), one is against Southeast Division-leading Carolina and the other two are against the Thrashers, who will miss the playoffs.

Atlanta dropped its fifth consecutive game in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Capitals.

The Thrashers held a 3-1 advantage after two periods, but Washington beat goaltender Kari Lehtonen three times in the final period before Boyd Gordon scored a late empty-netter.