Panthers Increase Division Lead Over Capitals

The Florida Panthers entered Monday's game with a five-point lead over the Washington Capitals in the Southeast Division. They clashed at the Bank Atlantic Center as the Panthers beat the Capitals 5-4 to extend their lead in the division. Florida was playing their only home game in an eight-game stretch. The Panthers picked up two goals in just 13 seconds early in the first period. On Florida's first power play, Brian Campbell sent a pass from the top of the zone to Weiss on the right wing who then fired a shot past Michal Neuvirth with a Tomas Fleischmann screen in front at 6:50. On the following face-off at center, Mike Weaver passed the puck across to Dmitry Kulikov at the Panthers line. He found a streaking Mike Santorelli down the right wing who then blasted a slapshot from the right circle over the right shoulder of Neuvirth at 7:03. The Panthers picked up another power- play goal at 16:31 as Kulikov pounded a slapshot from the top right circle following passes around the defensive umbrella by Weiss and Campbell for a 3-0 lead. The Capitals finally scored at 17:11 as Mike Knuble finished off a three-on-two play from Marcus Johansson with a shot between the pads of Scott Clemmensen from the high slot. Florida picked up their third power-play goal of the game 3:41 into the second period as Sean Bergenheim, his fourth this season, made a wraparound shot following a mad scramble for the puck in the crease. Weiss picked up his second goal of the game at 12:11 putting the puck into an open net after Fleischmann carried it through the slot into the left circle then fed it across to Weiss. Washington closed the second period cutting the deficit to 5-2 with 20 seconds left in the second as Mathieu Perreault fed a pass from behind the Panthers net to Cody Eakin in the crease. The Capitals made it close in the third period. They picked up a goal 12:09 into the third period as Brooks Laich scored from the slot area. With less than two minute remaining, Jason Chimera put one in from close range. The Panthers have three days off before they take on the Stanley Cup champion Bruins in Boston.