First Period:
The Panthers went on the power play almost immediately when Tomas Kopecky drew a high-sticking penalty on Sergei Gonchar. The man advantage was wasted without the Panthers getting any serious opportunities.
Ottawa got on the board first with a power play wrister by Chris Neil with assists from Erik Karlsson and Daniel Alfredsson after Shawn Matthias was called for tripping Colin Greening at the seven minute mark. It was Neil’s fourth goal of the season.
Matthias almost tied it up two minutes later with a wrister from 14 feet but former Panther Craig Anderson gloved it easily.
Just before intermission, the Panthers started a two minute power play when the Senators were called for a bench penalty: too many men on the ice, served by Bobby Butler.
Even though the Panthers outshot the Senators 10 to six in the first period, they never really got into any rhythm offensively. They skate into the first intermission down one goal to none.
Second Period:
The Senators started out on the penalty kill, and very effectively ended the Panthers power play without incident.
A scary moment for both teams happened when Keaton Ellerby and Mike Foligno got tangled up behind the net and crashed to the ice in a flurry of limbs. Although it looked as if there was nobody specifically at fault, Foligno was assessed a five minute charging penalty and a game misconduct for the incident.
The Panthers took until three minutes into the ensuing power play to make an impact when recent callup Michal Repik scored his first goal of the season with assists by Kris Versteeg and Tomas Fleischmann. On five-minute major penalties, the power play continues even when the beneficiary of the man advantage scores a goal. The Panthers, however, were unable to take the lead.
Florida was crashing the net hard for most of the period, but Anderson posts historically good numbers against his former team. He is also fourth on the Cats all-time list for shutouts, with five. This is in only 53 games for the Panthers.
The teams have skated to a tie after two periods.
Third Period:
Five minutes into the third, the Senators went on the power play when Dmitry Kulikov was called for interference and matching two minute roughing minors on Chris Phillips and Krys Barch.
The Senators took the lead just 30 seconds into the man advantage when 39-year old winger Daniel Alfredsson caught goaltender Scott Clemmensen out of position and scored his 10th goal of the season. Chris Neil was awarded an assist on the play.
Erik Condra was called for hooking at the eight minute mark and the Cats were able to even the score up again, this time on a power play goal by Shawn Matthias, his sixth goal of the season. Brian Campbell and Mike Santorelli got the helpers.
Erik Karlsson scored his fourth goal of the season just 38 seconds later with assists by Daniel Alfredsson and Colin Greening through heavy traffic.
Florida pulled the goalie with just over a minute remaining for the extra skater. Just a few seconds later, Tomas Kopecky scored his fifth goal of the season with assists from Kris Versteeg and Matt Bradley.
The teams go to the extra frame to decide it, tied 3-3.
Overtime:
The Senators outshot the Panthers three shots to one in overtime and Bobby Butler scored his third goal of the season just two minutes into the four-on-four action with assists from Kyle Turris and Jared Cowen. The Panthers escape Ottawa, 4-3. Unlike last time, however, they managed to salvage a point in the standings.
Hits: Senators, 24-16 (Matt Bradley, Jason Garrison and Bill Thomas with three apiece, Chris Neil led all skaters with six.)
Blocked Shots: Senators, 17-15 (Chris Phillips led all skaters with seven on the night, Brian Campbell led the Panthers with three.)
Faceoffs: Senators, 34-30 (Shawn Matthias went 11-10 to lead the Panthers, while Jason Spezza went 12-9 to pace the Senators.)
Shots On Goal: Panthers, 35-26 (Tim Kennedy, Shawn Matthias and Kris Versteeg each had four for the Panthers, while the Senators were led with four by Daniel Alfredsson.
Score: Senators 4, Panthers 3
For more on this matchup, check out the Litter Box Cats recap.