SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Panthers are starting to

believe that they can make the playoffs.

Jon Sim, Jozef Stumpel and Joe Nieuwendyk scored goals and

Roberto Luongo made 28 saves to lead Florida to its first four-game

winning streak of the season with a 3-2 victory over Washington on

Wednesday night.

The Panthers trail Atlanta by five points for the eighth and

final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"Each game we win we get closer and closer," Stumpel said.

"We still have hope and we will keep pushing."

Brian Willsie and Dainius Zubrus scored for the Capitals and

Brent Johnson made 37 saves.

Washington has now lost seven straight games. It was their

seventh consecutive loss to Florida this season. Six of those were

by one goal, including two shootouts.

"We squeaked out a few against them," Panthers defenseman Mike

Van Ryn said. "Maybe it is a little lucky that we pulled this one

out again."

The Capitals trailed by two goals heading into the final period,

but Zubrus beat Loungo on a backhanded shot at 8:00. Washington

could never get the equalizer.

"It's not the Panthers that tire you, it's the losing during

the whole season," Washington coach Glen Hanlon said. "You have

to guard against becoming morally down."

Florida took a 3-1 lead after scoring three power-play goals in

the second. Nieuwendyk passed from the left circle to Stumpel on

the right side. Stumpel shot the puck under Johnson's legs at 6:03.

At 8:26, Sim jumped on a rebound of a Chris Gratton shot and slid

the puck between Johnson's legs.

"The puck was laying there and I just batted it in," Sim said.

"This is a huge two points for us. Every game now is the biggest

game of the year."

The Panthers had tied the score 1-1 just 35 seconds into the

second on a five-on-three power play goal by Nieuwendyk. Stumpel

passed from the left circle and found Nieuwendyk to the right of

the crease where he poked in the puck.

"We had lots of shots on the net," Nieuwendyk said. "Anytime

we had a chance we put the puck to the net. The hockey gods were on

our side tonight."

Washington took a 1-0 lead during a five-on-three power play in

the first period. Jeff Halpern's shot bounced off the post and

across the crease and Willsie pushed the puck into the open net at

18:16.

Washington was on a power play during the last 1:45 of the game

and pulled the goalie.

"We had our chance with a six-on-four at the end to score a

goal," Zubrus said. "It was in our hands to tie it up."Game notes
Stumpel has 17 points in his last nine games. ... Sim has

seven goals in five games against the Capitals this season. ...

Florida defensemen have 17 points (five goals and 12 assists) in

the past eight games. ... Willsie is the only Capitals player to

play in every game this season.