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Anderson shines again as Panthers sink Capitals

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-03 14:42

WASHINGTON - Craig Anderson made 23 saves to help the Florida Panthers beat Washington 5-3 on Tuesday, the Capitals' first home regulation loss of the season.

Florida scored three goals in the second period and Anderson continued his good form since taking over from Tomas Vokoun to lift the Panthers' record in their past five games to 3-0-2.

"It was a real gutsy effort," Florida coach Peter DeBoer told reporters. "We started to play our game in the second and third periods and we got all four lines rolling.

"We got some bounces around the net that we haven't been getting. Our guys worked hard for it."

DeBoer again started with Anderson, a career backup, and he made a number of key saves.

"I thought he was really good," DeBoer said. "He made a couple of huge saves on the powerplay early in the third period to keep us in the lead."

Southeast Division-leading Washington was 9-0-1 at home heading into the game but were stymied by the Panthers' tenacious checking.

"We didn't play very well," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It was the least energy we've had all year.

"I don't know what it was, maybe we had too many days off without a game."

Radek Dvorak, Ville Peltonen and Gregory Campbell had a goal and an assist each and Bryan McCabe and Jay Bouwmeester scored the other Florida goals.

Florida forward Stephen Weiss says the Panthers are starting to get on a roll under their rookie head coach.

"We've got confidence," Weiss said. "It's amazing what that will do for you. We're playing well.

"Everything's clicking, we're staying out of the penalty box and getting key goals and key times."

Nicklas Backstrom, Viktor Kozlov and Tomas Fleischmann scored for the Capitals. Jose Theodore made 17 saves.