Forsberg's 3rd shutout of the season carries Senators past playoff-bound Panthers 3-0

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Anton Forsberg made 40 saves in his third shutout of the season as the Ottawa Senators beat the Florida Panthers 3-0 on Saturday.

Jake Sanderson had a goal and an assist and Drake Batherson and Matthew Highmore also scored for Ottawa.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves for the Panthers, who dropped their fourth straight game. Florida secured a postseason berth late Saturday when Toronto beat Columbus 3-0.

The Panthers had not been shut out since a 4-0 loss to Montreal on Dec. 28.

Forsberg was peppered with shots from Florida. He went side-to-side for a save midway through the second period on Seth Jones and made a highlight-reel save on Sam Reinheart near the end of the frame.

The Senators (41-29-6) moved seven points ahead of Montreal for the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference in a bid for their first playoff berth since 2016-17. The Canadiens host Philadelphia later Saturday.

Panthers: Florida is trying to find some spark with the season winding down. The Panthers cobbled together a lineup against Ottawa, but are still down plenty of their stars, including Matthew Tkachuk.

Senators: Ottawa is thrilled to get the impressive effort in net from Forsberg in the first of a weekend back-to-back. Ottawa took both games against Florida opponents this week after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Thursday.

With two minutes left in the second period, it looked as if Florida had beaten Forsberg for a goal. But, a high stick was immediately called, preserving the shutout bid.

Sanderson scored for the fourth straight home game.

Both teams play Sunday. The Panthers host the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Senators host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes the save in front of Ottawa Senators' Thomas Chabot (72) and Fabian Zetterlund (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey action game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators' Claude Giroux (28) leaps forward to clear the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey action game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers' Niko Mikkola (77) tries to keep Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson (85) from getting a shot on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey action game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators' Claude Giroux (28) dives to try and reach a rebound in front of Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey action game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) gets ready to make a save as Nikolas Matinpalo (33) tries to defend against Florida Panthers' A.J. Greer (10) during the first period of an NHL hockey action game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

The puck goes through the crease, missing the net, as Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) loses track of a Florida Panthers shot during the first period of an NHL hockey action game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) makes a glove save as Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) looks for the rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey action game in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Turmoil at the FIA, the governing body for auto racing series like Formula 1, has deepened after its deputy president for sport resigned in protest at how it is run.

Robert Reid was a running mate when FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem was elected in 2021. His resignation is the latest sign of discontent with the direction taken by the FIA under Ben Sulayem, whose tenure has seen a rift with F1 drivers and numerous senior officials leave or be replaced.

“I took on this role to help deliver greater transparency, stronger governance, and more collaborative leadership,” Reid posted on social media on Thursday.

“Over time, those principles have been increasingly set aside and I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that no longer reflects them.”

The FIA has clashed with F1 drivers over Ben Sulayem's plans to crack down on swearing. New rules introduced for 2025 make it possible for the FIA to suspend drivers who repeatedly swear or make political statements.

F1 champion Max Verstappen kept his answers to a minimum at an FIA news conference last year after he was punished for swearing. Drivers in the world rally championship last month boycotted interviews to protest a fine issued to a driver who used an expletive in an interview.

Reid, a former world champion rally co-driver, isn't the only voice at the FIA to express concern at how it is run.

British representative David Richards, a colleague of Reid's from his rallying days, said on Wednesday he was seeking a meeting with Ben Sulayem. Richards alleged he was excluded from a meeting of the FIA world motor sport council for refusing to sign a document he called a “gagging order" that would ban public discussion of key topics.

The FIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Reid's resignation.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

The FIA logo is displayed in the paddock ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

The FIA logo is displayed in the paddock ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

FILE -The FIA logo is seen on glass, with the sky reflected, during a free practice ahead the British Formula One Grand Prix at the Silverstone racetrack, in Silverstone, England, Friday, June 19 2009. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)