OTTAWA (AP) – Kyle Turris had a goal and an assist to help the Ottawa Senators beat Florida 3-2 on Saturday, spoiling Peter Horachek’s debut as the Panthers’ coach.
Horachek was promoted from the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio on Friday after the club fired Kevin Dineen and assistant coaches Gord Murphy and Craig Ramsay. The Panthers have lost eight in a row to fall to 3-10-4.
Original Florida captain Brian Skrudland – who had been serving as the team’s director of player development – and former Panthers center John Madden replaced Murphy and Ramsay.
Mika Zibanejad and Clarke McArthur also scored for Ottawa, and Robin Lehner made 25 saves. The Senators have won three straight to improve to 7-6-4.
Nick Bjugstad and Marcel Goc scored for Florida. Tim Thomas made 28 saves in his first game back after missing six straight because of a lower-body injury.
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