Surging Panthers aim for four straight

It hasn't quite been a week, but what a difference a few wins can make.

On Feb. 7, the Panthers went into Washington and got steamrolled 4-0. The Capitals dominated play for much of the night and took first place in the Southeast Division in the process. Florida, mired in a slump, dropped all the way from third to ninth in the standings.

After Sunday, not only are the Panthers back in first, but they've got a little breathing room.

Florida's 4-1 win against the host Islanders on Sunday gave the Panthers a four-point lead on Washington in the division and a seven-point lead on third-place Winnipeg. Since losing in Washington, Florida has won three straight and will go for its first four-game winning streak since 2008 on Wednesday, when the Panthers play host to Ottawa.

The Panthers had gone 8-9-7 in games from Dec. 8 through the Washington loss, but the three-game winning streak -- with road wins in New Jersey and on Long Island -- give the Panthers hope that their worst is behind them. The team definitely appears to be looking ahead and not back.

Florida has won five of seven since the All-Star break.

"We struggled a little bit," said goalie Jose Theodore, back in net for Sunday's win. "Now it's crunch time. It's never too late to start doing the right things. Winning back-to-back games on the road is always huge."

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