(My Sportsbook) - Backup goaltender Jani Hurme had been the Panthers' saving grace for four consecutive games in place of Roberto Luongo entering Thursday's matchup with the Ottawa Senators, his former team.

Hurme went 1-0-2-1 while Luongo nursed a sore back, and has played more than admirably against tough clubs like the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers. Hurme again helped the Cats to a point on Thursday, but it came in the form of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators at the Corel Centre.

The backward point came just a night after the Panthers skated to a 1-1 tie with the Flyers in Philly.

"It was a good point, playing back-to-back games," Panthers coach Mike Keenan said. "We had a tough game in Philadelphia [on Wednesday]. They were sitting here waiting for us. We had to travel, get in late. It was a really solid point for us."

Thursday's match was decided when the Sens' Todd White took a behind-the-net pass from Daniel Alfredsson and scored with two minutes to go in the extra frame. The Panthers' Kristian Huselius had knotted the game midway through the third period with his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Sandis Ozolinsh also tallied for Florida, while Hurme turned aside 31 shots against the club that traded him South shortly before the season began.

"It's better to play to a tie than lose in overtime," forward Olli Jokinen said. "Because losing is always losing. We still get the point in the standings. Maybe that'll feel better in March or April. But not now."

Jokinen had a golden opportunity to win the match shortly before White did so for Ottawa, as he and centerman Viktor Kozlov moved in on a 2-on-1 in OT. Unfortunately. defenseman Chris Phillips blocked Jokinen's pass attempt before it could reach Kozlov.

The Panthers can be commended for not folding up camp after facing some questionable adversity in the second period. With Jokinen in the penalty box for hooking at 13:08, Hurme was whistled for interference 21 seconds later, and Keenan got called for unsportsmanlike conduct at the same time.

Ottawa proceeded to go on a full two-man advantage, and Alfredsson scored the game's first goal shortly after the first two power plays expired.

Following the game, Keenan just asked for a level playing surface.

"I'm very disappointed in the officiating," Keenan said. "Twice in the overtime they had too many men on the ice and they touched the puck, and those three penalties that put us down 5-on-3, I thought was poor officiating."

Nonetheless, the Panthers have still recorded at least a point in the last six games -- their longest such stretch since November, 1996.

As far as Luongo is concerned, he was healthy enough to dress in each of the last two tilts, but Keenan decided to give the nod to Hurme. And Keenan isn't necessarily going to turn right back to Luongo, either. He may continue to ride the hot hand.

"They can compete and they can both contribute," said Keenan. "That's a good thing for a hockey club. There's 82 games, and you have to have spot-on goaltending to stay in the playoff hunt."

UP NEXT

The Panthers will host San Jose on Saturday, before visiting Atlanta on Tuesday.