Comments / New

Reimer stops 38 shots in Panthers 1-0 blanking of Senators

The Florida Panthers shut out the Ottawa Senators by a 1-0 count Saturday night at the BB&T Center, giving the suddenly hot club sole possession of fifth place in the Atlantic Division and its first three-game winning streak of the season.

After scoring twice in Friday night’s win over Minnesota, Jonathan Huberdeau notched the game’s only goal 1:36 into the second period. Keith Yandle started the play with an outlet pass to Nick Bjugstad, who found Huberdeau wide-open with a cross and the crafty left winger beat Mike Condon, starting for the ill Craig Anderson, for his 12th goal.

James Reimer continued his run of fine play in goal, stopping all 38 Ottawa shots for his first shutout of the season and fourth as a Panther.

Reimer, now 5-3-1 since Roberto Luongo went on IR, surrendered just eleven goals on Florida’s recent five-game road trip, and has followed that by giving up just two to the Wild in the first two games of the Panthers holiday homestand. The Cats get a four-day break for Christmas and Boxing Day before returning to action on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Full Highlights (courtesy of NHL.com)

Law & Order

  • The shutout was the second of the season for the Panthers. Roberto Luongo whitewashed the San Jose Sharks back on November 16.
  • Ottawa backup Mike Condon was the hard-luck loser, finishing with 37 stops, one fewer than James Reimer.
  • Reimer made 18 of his 38 saves in the third period with Ottawa desperately looking to forge a tie. The Senators held the Panthers to 8 shots in the final frame.
  • Vincent Trocheck left with 6:29 to go in the third period after he was hit by a shot in the torso. Head coach Bob Boughner said Trocheck would have X-rays on his ribs.
  • The low scoring affair saw the Panthers go 0 for 3 on the power play while the Senators went 0 for 2.
  • Aleksander Barkov paced the Cats with 6 shots on goal and won 15 of 24 faceoffs. Ottawa defenseman Cody Ceci registerd a game-high 8 shots on goal.
  • Silver Seven has the other side of the first of four meetings between the 90s-era expansion teams./

Talking Points