Caps Send Panthers Packin'

Is the season over for the Florida Panthers? Their coach says yes. The players are saying something else.

"That pretty well puts the nail right in the coffin, I think with the game tonight losing the way we did," Terry Murray said following Monday night's 3-0 loss to the Washington Capitals.

In a matchup of two injury-depleted teams clinging to fading playoff hopes, Brian Bellows scored a power-play goal and Olaf Kolzig notched his fourth shutout of the season for the Capitals.

Adam Oates had two assists for Washington, while Sergei Gonchar added a goal and an assist in the third period. James Black scored an empty-net goal with 2:05 remaining to secure Washington's second win in its last seven games. Both came against the reeling Panthers, who are 2-8-1 in their last 11 games.

The Panthers are four games under .500 for the first time this season and trail Carolina by six points with six games remaining for its slim chance at a playoff berth.

"We're going to keep battling until they say we're eliminated or got a spot," said Rob Niedermayer. "This team is not going to give up."

Washington, meanwhile, trails Carolina by 10 points with six games left.

"I don't think we really have hope, but pride is a good word," Oates said of his defending Eastern Conference champions who are on the brink of elimination. "We're two teams trying to be professional, both playing hard."

Kolzig made 28 saves in his 11th career shutout.

Each team was missing eight regulars due to injuries or for personal reasons.

The Capitals took a 1-0 lead at 11:47 of the second period on Bellows' fifth goal in the last six games.

Oates slid a goal-mouth pass to Bellows, who backhanded it past Kirk McLean for his 17th goal of the season and 485th of his career.

"When you come into these games you want to remember three things," Bellows said. "Tht people pay good money to see the game; that lots of jobs are on the line and that the players want to keep some feeling of pride."

The closest Florida came to scoring was when Mark Parrish kicked the puck in midway through the first period, but it was immediately waved off. Kolzig stopped Parrish on a 2-on-1 rush with 15 minutes remaining.

Florida has been shut out nine times this season, equaling its total for the previous three seasons.

Black's 16th goal and Gonchar's 21st marked career highs for both.

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