Stolarz, Panthers shut down Ottawa with strong 2-0 win
Anthony Stolarz finished with 23 saves for his second shutout of the season
The Florida Panthers played another solid hockey game on Tuesday night, a trend the Cats are hoping to continue as the postseason draws closer.
Florida shut down and shutout the visiting Ottawa Senators, completing the season sweep with a 2-0 victory.
The Panthers outscored Ottawa 16-2 over the four-game regular season series.
Florida was able to get off to a quick start on Tuesday, jumping out to a 2-0 first period lead on the visiting Senators.
The first goal came off the stick of Anton Lundell, but his slick 5-hole shot wouldn’t have happened if not for the long-distance pass from Anthony Stolarz that sprund Lundell on Ottawa goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
Less than three minutes later, Nick Cousins created a turnover at the Senators blue line, springing Florida on a sudden rush back into the offensive zone.
Cousins followed the play and found the puck on his stick between the circles, making no mistake and beating Korpisalo to the blocker side for his seventh goal of the season.
After a first period that combined for two goals on 21 shots, the Cats and Sens skated to a pretty ho-hum middle frame.
There were a total of seven shots and just one penalty called after there were 28 penalty minutes handed out during the first period.
The third period was more of the same for Florida, limiting Ottawa’s opportunities and keeping things fairly clean in front of Stolarz.
Stolie the Goalie finished with 24 saves while earning his second shutout of the season.
On to Columbus.
Here are some thoughts and observations from Tuesday’s battle with the Senators:
Florida was only shorthanded three times on Tuesday, killing off each Sens power play.
Sam Bennett has five points over his past five games after logging an assist on Cousins’ goal.
As for Cousins, he’s got two goals and three points over his past three games after going scoreless in his previous 12.
Stolarz’s assist on Lundell’s game-winning goal was his second point of the season.
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