Florida Panthers overturn two goal deficit to win 4-2 against Ottawa Senators - NHL Update
It took Florida Panthers some time to get into the game but they did just that overturning a 2-0 deficit in the final two periods to run out 4-2 winners against Ottawa Senators on Sunday, March 4, 2012.
The Panthers needed a win to maintain their position in third in the Eastern Conference and in the early part of the game it looked like they would lose their position.
Down 2-0 after a poor first period, the Panthers came out from the break pumped up and three second period goals gave them the lead while a Jack Skille goal late in the fourth period ensured victory.
The victory ended Florida’s two-game skid and Skille was pleased that the Panthers won in front of the home crowd at a packed BankAtlantic Center.
"It was good to get a win finally in front of these fans that are itching for the playoffs. We want to make sure that we come back with a lot of push at the end of the season here."
Panthers’ goaltender Jose Theodore made 25 saves during the game to keep out the Senators.
For the Senators it was their second defeat in a row and keeps them in seventh in the Eastern Conference with 76 points.
Coach Paul MacLean looked frustrated with the defeat and said that his team did not raise their game to match their opponents.
"Our competition level after the first period stayed the same and theirs obviously elevated to a higher level. Instead of raising our competition level as the game went on to meet theirs, we got frustrated."
The Ottawa Senators went ahead in the first period after outshooting the Panthers 12-9.
At 13:23 Jared Cowen took control of the puck and fired in a shot towards goal from close range beating Theodore to give the Senators a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later Chris Neil put the Senators 2-0 up and it looked as if the Canadians would make short work of their opponents.
However, the Panthers came back on the ice and egged on by a cheering 15,000 plus crowd they started their bid for a comeback in the second period.
It took them just 33-seconds to get on the score sheet as Marcel Goc beat Senators goaltender Robin Lehner to make it 2-1.
Just a couple of minutes later Krys Barch put Florida back on level pegging with a well taken goal.
The game then went back and forth as both teams looked to take the advantage but it was the Panthers who got the go-ahead goal.
At 11:03 Mikael Samuelsson took advantage of a power play to put Florida ahead for good.
It was all over in the third period as the Senators failed to mount any significant offence and the Panthers made it 4-2 at 18:34 with Skille doing the honours.
The Panthers will now look to build from this win on Thursday when they travel to face Philadelphia Flyers while the Senators will hope to end their two-game skid against Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
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