Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson will start Thursday's game against the Florida Panthers after being out of the lineup since March 1 with a lower-body injury.

His presence will be a boost for a club that went 1-2-1 in his absence, although it's probably too late to make much of a difference in the playoff race, as the Senators sit five points out of a wild-card spot with 14 games remaining on the schedule.

Anderson has posted a record of 27-20-4 with a .917 save percentage in 52 appearances this season.

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