In Ottawa, San Bennett scored twice to give the Florida Panthers a 2-0 lead on Thursday night. He scored once in the first period and once in the third to help the Panthers to a 4-0 shut out of the Senators.
Spencer Knight made 27 saves, it was Knights’ second career NHL shutout.
“He was solid the whole game,” Brunette said of Knight. “I’m proud of our group that we buckled down and kind of had a bit of a checking mentality where we didn’t give up a whole lot in the third period to make sure we got him the shutout. Because I think we get a little loosey-goosey when we get up four [goals]. Sometimes we’re trying to make it five instead of just shutting it down at four. Guys did that tonight, and I think going forward for Spencer, to get that shutout in his last start … it’s great for him.”
After Bennett’s second strike, Carter Verhaeghe pcked up the offense with two goals of his own.
“I think you’re just trying to find your game and make it sharp, make all the details sharp,” Verhaeghe said. “Kind of getting to know the systems, be solid with the systems. I think everyone’s just trying to work on their game and try to get better and get tuned up for the playoffs.”
The win clinched the President’s Trophy for the Panthers.
“[Bennett] brings a lot to the table,” Verhaeghe said. “He has a bit of an edge, he makes big hits, he can score goals. Guys on the other team probably hate playing against him. He can get under your skin. I think that’s a huge role to play, especially in a playoff series.”
Ottawa dropped to 32-42-7.
“We weren’t very good,” Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. “Tried to score off the rush, turned pucks over, got beat. We just weren’t very good.”
Filip Gustavsson made 26 saves in the loss.
“Certainly, you want to finish better than that,” Smith said. “We didn’t play by any of the structure that we play with that’s allowed us a chance to win every night. No matter how many guys are out, you play with structure and you stay in it. We had a lot of people on their own page and taking long shifts. We’ve played a lot better hockey.”
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