Panthers 4, Senators 2
PANTHERS 4, SENATORS 2: Mikael Samuelsson scored the go-ahead goal on the power play as Florida produced three second-period tallies to take the lead and snapped a nine-game losing streak to visiting Ottawa.
Marcel Goc and Krys Barch also scored in the second period and defenseman Mike Weaver recorded two assists for the Panthers, who pushed their lead in the Southeast Division to four points.
Jack Skille’s goal with 1:26 remaining in the game sealed it.
Defenseman Jared Cowen and Chris Neil netted goals for Ottawa, but leading scorer Jason Spezza’s 11-game point streak ended.
It took less than three minutes for Florida to erase a 2-0 deficit in the second period. Goc deflected Weaver’s shot over Ottawa goalie Robin Lehner 33 seconds in. Barch tied it at 2:54 on a breakaway, scoring his second of the season.
Samuelsson finished a nifty feed from Stephen Weiss in front at 11:03 for a 3-2 lead.
Cowen’s screen shot from the left point beat Florida goalie Jose Theodore for a 1-0 edge at 13:23 of the first period. Neil added another at 18:32 with wrist shot from the slot.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Florida was without leading scorer Kris Versteeg (lower body) for the fourth straight game. He could be back next week. … Ottawa’s Jim O’Brien earned his first NHL assist on Neil’s goal. … Rookie defenseman Erik Gudbranson was a healthy scratch for Florida. … It was only the fourth victory over Ottawa at home in the last 21 tries for Florida.