Cats Drop Wild One In Ottawa

Ottawa Senators' Joe Corvo (7) hangs his head in the net as Senators goalie Ray Emery (1) looks on while Florida Panthers' Olli Jokinen (12), celebrates his goal, joined by teammate Brett McLean (53), during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

OTTAWA (AP) -No one was happier to see Dany Heatley return than his linemate Jason Spezza.

Heatley had two goals and an assist in his first game back after a shoulder injury and the Ottawa Senators beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 Thursday night.

Spezza helped set up both of Heatley's goals and finished with three assists.

"We've got pretty good chemistry and Heater was pretty excited to play," Spezza said. "When you're losing games it's nice to get a jolt of energy back in your lineup and it's nice when it comes in the way of a 50-goal man."

Christoph Schubert, Joe Corvo and Chris Phillips also scored for the Senators, who went 3-8-0 with Heatley out with a separated shoulder. Wade Redden had two assists.

David Booth, Nathan Horton, Brett McLean and Olli Jokinen scored for the Panthers, who had won three straight.

Heatley's second goal of the game put Ottawa in front 5-4 at 7:26 of the third period. Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun got a piece of Redden's shot, but Heatley was right there to tap it in as it fell behind Vokoun's left leg.

Game Highlights
Starting Lineups
Panthers		Senators
Weiss	C	Fisher
Booth	LW	McAmmond
Horton	RW	Neil
Allen	D	Volchenkov
Bouwmeester	D	Phillips
Vokoun	G	Emery
PhotoGallery
Panthers vs Senators
Quote of the Game
"When you look at the penalties we took, it hurt us and they took advantage and capitalized on it. It's tough and that was the difference in the hockey game really." -Panthers GM & Head Coach Jacques Martin
Stat of the Game
The Panthers tied a franchise record when they and the Senators combined for seven goals in the second period Thursday night. This was the fourth time the Panthers combined with another team to score seven. The last time was the third period against Montreal on January 21, 2002.
3 Stars Presented by Szrio Jewelry
1. Dany Heatley 2. Jason Spezza 3. Richard Zednik

Vokoun finished with 29 saves, and Ray Emery also made 29 stops for the Senators.

The Panthers controlled the first period, but were outscored 4-3 in the second.

Booth gave Florida the lead with a power-play goal late in the first period, as the Panthers built a 16-5 advantage in shots.

Heatley tied it 58 seconds into the second, and Schubert and Corvo scored as Ottawa went in front 3-1.

"We played a real strong first period, I thought the way we should play against them, and in the second period we opened it up and they've got people that are going to capitalize on mistakes," Panthers coach Jacques Martin said.

"When you look at the penalties we took, it hurt us and they took advantage and capitalized on it. It's tough and that was the difference in the hockey game really."

McLean scored on the power play just before the midway point of the second and Horton tied it again at 10:04.

The scoring didn't stop there as Phillips gave the Senators a 4-3 lead at 13:31, and Jokinen scored 46 seconds later.

"The win is all that matters and we needed that," Spezza said. "We played a pretty competitive game and really battled against a team that's playing well."

Notes: The Panthers are 13-6-0 in their last 19 road games after starting the season 1-8-1 away from Sunrise, Fla. They set their franchise record with 18 road wins in 1993-94, their inaugural season. ... Vokoun made his 50th start of the season in goal for the Panthers. ... The 11 games Heatley missed are the only ones he has missed as a member of the Senators. ... The Senators recorded their 21st consecutive sellout. ... Ottawa signed president and chief executive officer Roy Mlakar to a one-year contract extension.