Senators 2, Panthers 1

+ Click for larger photo
Photo Gallery   Game Highlights

SUNRISE, Fla. - Dany Heatley and Chris Kelly scored third-period goals to help the Ottawa Senators rally for a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

The victory was Ottawa's (4-5-1) second in a row following a four-game losing streak. Florida beat the Senators 3-1 at Scotiabank Place on Oct. 22.

Keith Ballard scored for Florida, which lost consecutive games for the first time this season. The Panthers were shut out 4-0 at St. Louis on Saturday.

Alex Auld, who played for Florida in 2006-07, made 25 saves for Ottawa. He was making his fourth consecutive start in place of the injured Martin Gerber.

Tomas Vokoun stopped 29 shots for Florida.

Kelly gave Ottawa the lead at 10:20 when he poked home a loose puck in the crease. Vokoun stopped Chris Neil's wraparound attempt after a turnover behind the Florida net, but the puck stayed loose in the goalmouth area. Vokoun stopped Jarkko Ruutu's rebound, but Kelly was able to poke the puck through.

Florida led 1-0 before Heatley tied the game with a power-play goal at 5:55 of the third period. Heatley skated in from the corner of the offensive zone and beat Vokoun to the short side when he fired a quick wrist shot.

Ballard opened the scoring at 14:19 of the first period during a 5-on-3 power play just nine seconds after Jason Smith was called for delay of game for shooting the puck over the glass. Ballard beat Auld with a wrist shot to the stick side with Rostislaz Olesz standing right in front of the net.

Florida almost added to the lead in the second period when Nathan Horton's wrist shot past Auld's glove bounced off the post.