Panthers go down early, can't claw back against Senators
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) -- A quick scoring burst and a solid outing from their goalie was all the Ottawa Senators needed in their latest win.
Erik Karlsson and Derick Brassard scored 19 seconds apart in the first period, Mike Condon stopped 24 shots for his second shutout of the season, and the Senators beat the Florida Panthers 2-0 Saturday night.
"We came out to play right from the start and it translated into the whole game. We had great goaltending and that kept us in the game," Karlsson said.
"We battled hard all game and they made it hard for us. They showed they are a good team and created their fair share of scoring chances, but Condon played great for us."
Ottawa snapped a two-game skid and handed Florida its third loss in four games (1-2-1).
Roberto Luongo made 19 saves, including just five in the third period. The Senators did have two breakaways in the final 5 minutes but didn't register a shot on goal.
"It's a tough one to swallow," Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle said. "They had a good start and sometimes you have to weather the storm throughout courses of games and they did a good job in the first 10 or 12 minutes. If you look at the second period we were better.
"I thought there were stretches where we were good offensively and sometimes you run into a hot goalie. For most of the game we did the right thing and they got a couple of early goals."
Both goals required some fancy foot work. On the first, Karlsson had a pass from behind the net bounce off his stick right to his left foot. He then kicked the puck back to his stick and beat Luongo from the top of the crease at 6:46.
Brassard then took a pass at the side of the net and kicked the puck to his stick before cutting around a fallen Luongo to score.
The Panthers managed just one shot on goal through the first 14 minutes.
"The goalie is only as good as his defense and the defense was very good," Condon said. "It comes down to team defense and guys buying in. Tonight that was a good example with just 24 shots and not many Grade-A chances against, which makes it very manageable."
Each team had two power-play chances over the first two periods. The Senators had the first four power plays of the game but all they could create was one shot on goal.
The Panthers had two power plays, including a 5-on-3 for 1:23 in the second period, and had several good scoring chances with five shots, but could get nothing past Condon.
Condon also stopped Vincent Trocheck on a breakaway earlier in the second.
The Senators finished 0 for 7 on the power play and managed just six shots while the Panthers went 0 for 4.
NOTES: Marc Methot and Craig Anderson were scratches for the Senators. ... Dylan McIlrath and Kyle Rau were scratches for the Panthers. ... Senators D Andreas Englund made his NHL debut Saturday. ... Panthers D Jakub Kindl played in his 300th game.
UP NEXT
Panthers: At Boston on Monday night in the fifth game of a season-high six-game, 10-day trip.
Senators: At Pittsburgh on Monday night in the opener of a four-game trip.
