Senators at Panthers
THE STORY: The Florida Panthers have won five of seven games since the all-star break, re-establishing control of the Southeast Division by four points. Florida, which is missing three of its regular defensemen with injuries, can win its fourth straight for the first time since 2008 with a victory Wednesday over visiting Ottawa. The Senators, led by a red-hot Jason Spezza, won just their second in 10 games Tuesday at Tampa Bay. They have beaten the Panthers eight straight times - including twice this season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET; No TV.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (29-22-8): Spezza is trying to will the Senators back on course. Spezza scored his first hat trick of the season at Tampa Bay to give him five goals and five assists in the last four games. The 28-year old center has 25 goals and is on track to top his career high of 34. Spezza’s linemate Bobby Butler has also picked it up with five assists in his last three games. Goalie Craig Anderson notched his second shutout of the season Tuesday to win his first game since Jan. 19. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he was back in net against Florida. He is 6-0-1 lifetime against his former team.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (27-17-11): Florida has allowed just six goals in their five victories since the all-star break, four of them with Scott Clemmenson in net. Jose Theodore returned from injury Sunday to beat the New York Islanders. Whoever gets the start will have to be good. Jason Garrison, the NHL’s leading goal scorer for defensemen with 13, is expected out 7-10 days with a lower-body injury. Defensemen Ed Jovanovski and Dmitry Kulikov are already out. Panthers’ leading scorer Kris Versteeg has matched his career high with 22 goals and Tomas Fleischmann has eight points in eight games.
OVERTIME:
1. Ottawa is 5-6-2 in the first of back-to-back games and 5-4-3 in the second.
2. The Panthers have 11 of their next 16 games at home.
3. Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson upped his total to 52 points Tuesday, 13 more than any other NHL defenseman.