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Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Craig Anderson made 33 saves in his first start for Florida, and came up with some big stops in the shootout, as Florida handed Atlanta a sour 3-2 loss at the BankAtlantic Center.

The Thrashers are currently in a race with Tampa Bay for the Southeast Division crown. Atlanta did come away with one point but holds just a three- point edge over the idle Lightning, having dropped three in a row.

Jozef Stumpel had a goal and an assist in regulation and also lit the lamp in the shootout for Florida, which defeated Tampa Bay 5-2 on Tuesday.

Anderson, who played parts of four seasons with Chicago prior to this year, was between the pipes to give Ed Belfour a much-deserved rest. Belfour had started the last 27 games for Florida, which is a franchise record.

Vyacheslav Kozlov had two goals and Kari Lehtonen came up with 33 saves for the Thrashers.

The Panthers trailed 2-1 entering the third, but were able to net the equalizer and induce overtime.

Florida set up in the Thrashers zone on a power play, leading to a shot from the point by Olli Jokinen that was blocked on its way in. The puck caromed across to a wide-open Stumpel, who fired it into the cage with 7:59 remaining.

After a fruitless end of regulation and overtime, Nathan Horton registered the first shootout tally with a wrister that sailed past the glove of Lehtonen.

Marian Hossa tried to even the score, but his snapshot was snared by the glove of Anderson to keep Florida ahead. Stumpel then put on a series of dekes before tucking the puck past a fallen Lehtonen to ice the victory.

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