Senators Hold Down Panthers

     The Florida Panthers had their franchise-record, eight-game home winning streak snapped with a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Sentors at BB&T Center on Monday night. It was the third game of a five-game home stand for the Cats as they lost their first game in regulation since February 20 in Toronto. Keith Yandle played in his 700th consecutive NHL game.
     It took 57 seconds for Ottawa(24-33-11) to get a tally and go up 1-0. Mike Hoffman entered the Panthers zone and curled to the left point. He sent a diagonal pass to Matt Duchene in the right circle and he scored on a slap shot past Roberto Luongo for his 20th goal of the year.
     The Sens added to their lead with 4:44 left in the first period. Fredrik Claesson released a wrist shot from the right point and it was deflected by Magnus Paajarvi at the top of the crease.
     Florida(34-26-7) was able to score with 7:24 remaining in the second period to make it 2-1. Nick Bjugstad found Evgenii Dadonov to his left in the neutral zone. He skated down through the left circle and snapped a high shot by Craig Anderson for his 22nd goal of the season.
     The Panthers evened up the contest with 2:32 to go in the frame. Vincent Trocheck sent a cross-ice pass from the right circle to the middle and Mike Matheson nailed a wrist shot from the high slot. Trocheck got his 200th NHL point on the play.
     The Senators struck within the first minute of the stanza like they did in the first. Thomas Chabot made a long-range shot from the top of the zone and it bounced off a defender. Paajarvi batted in the puck from the low slot for his second goal of the game at the 0:43 mark.
     The Cats brought it to 3-3 at 4:23. Trocheck raced down the right wing and made a centering pass. The puck went off the left skate of Jonathan Huberdeau in the crease and into the cage for his 23rd goal of the campaign.
     The game was decided the 3:00 left in the third period. Hoffman carried the puck around the Panthers net. He connected a pass to Duchene at the top right circle and he scored on a snap shot. The Sens added an insurance goal by Jean-Gabriel Pageau with 1:45 to go.