OTTAWA -- After blowing three-goal leads in their previous two home games, the Ottawa Senators were finally able to "seal the deal" in their home ice finale at Canadian Tire Centre.

Craig Anderson made 33 as the Senators snuffed out a third period comeback attempt to defeat the Florida Panthers 3-1 Thursday night.

The Senators (37-35-9) finished with a 21-14-6 record in their own building, where they had lost their last three.

"Winning is fun," said Anderson, who lives close to the Panthers rink in Florida during the offseason. "We showed up tonight, we played well and we were able to hold on to the lead, which is nice.

"We have bad memories, so we don't even remember the previous three, to be honest with you. You're always looking ahead to the next game. We're just glad we were able to seal the deal on this one tonight, make sure we got the win, and send the fans away with something to cheer about."

While the Senators will miss the playoffs for the fourth time in seven seasons, the Panthers (46-26-9) had already clinched home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The loss halted their winning streak at four games.

"The guys clinched the division the other night, and you try and tell your players to work hard and compete hard," said Panthers coach Gerard Gallant. "I thought for the most part they did. (But) there was nothing to push them over the edge. I thought we played okay, but not good enough."

Buddy Robinson's first NHL goal, which gave the Senators a 2-0 lead heading into the third, proved to be the winner. Mika Zibanejad scored in the first period and Cody Ceci added an insurance marker for the Senators, while Jaromir Jagr broke Anderson's shutout at 4:49 of the third.

Al Montoya stopped 20 shots in the Florida net.

"Unbelievable," Robinson, who was playing his second NHL game, said of the getting his first. "It's something you dream about as a kid growing up, you see it go in the back of the net, especially at home, the fans erupt, it's just something I can't really explain. It's awesome."

Fans chanted "Buddy" after the goal was announced.

"I think there was a TV timeout, so it went on a little longer," said Robinson. "I tried my best not to show my emotions there on the bench, but it was nice. I really appreciate that."

The Panthers had only 15 shots on goal through the first two periods before finally jumping to life in the third.

"It wasn't our best game, that's for sure," said Jagr, whose team concludes its regular season schedule Saturday at home against Carolina. "We just have to make sure we regroup. We've got one more game before the playoffs at home before our fans. We just have to make sure we play a lot better than tonight. We have to make sure we play the best hockey before going into the playoffs. Two bad games before playoffs I don't think it would be very smart.

"We should be motivated no matter what. We're professional hockey players. It was a key. In this league there is a huge difference if you give 100 percent or 95. You could see it. We just have to make sure the next game is a lot better than tonight, no question about it."

Like Jagr, Montoya said the Panthers have to file this performance quickly.

"This is their last home game, they got embarrassed last game. They were riding a bit of momentum," said Montoya. "At the same time, we've got one more game to finish this year. We've had a heck of a year. You've got to be mentally there. There's no turning on that light switch come next week. For us it's about that desperation mentality and why not have that? We owe it to ourselves. This was a rough one. Let's get back at it.

"You're always playing for something," added Montoya. "You can never be content in this league. Shame on us if it looked like it a little bit."

History was made in the first period, as Senators captain Erik Karlsson picked up his league-leading 65th assist to become the first Swedish defenseman to record 81 points in a season. The previous record was held by former Detroit Red Wing Nicklas Lidstrom, a seven-time Norris Trophy winner.

Karlsson admitted that while it will be nice accomplishment to consider in the offseason, he was more concerned with finishing the home schedule on a positive note.

"I think overall it was our game. I think we played well. I think it was kind of low intensity out there, but we did what we had to do.

"We want to do well for ourselves, and last home game here, so it's always nice to get away with a win. I think we deserved it."

NOTES: Panthers D Erik Gudbranson missed his second game with an upper body injury, but it coach Gerard Gallant says it isn't serious enough that he'll miss the start of the playoffs ... Panthers C Derek MacKenzie, who was a game time decision, was given another night off to rest a foot injury. Panthers C Quinton Howden took his spot in the lineup ... Senators C Scott Gomez was scratched for the fourth time since being signed by the team at the start of March ... Senators RW Bobby Ryan, who left Tuesday's game with a knee injury suffered on the first shift, returned to face the Panthers. Earlier in the day, the 29-year Ryan marvelled at how well Panthers W Jaromir Jagr has plated this season. "Fifteen years from now, nobody's going to know where I am," said Ryan. "I'll be in a mountain somewhere, fishing."