NHL: Florida 4, Carolina 3

RALEIGH, N.C., April 4 (UPI) -- Nathan Horton and Radek Dvorak both had a goal and an assist Friday to lead the Florida Panthers past Carolina 4-3.

The loss ended Carolina's Eastern Conference playoff hopes.

Florida led 4-2 after out-scoring Carolina 2-1 in both the first and second periods. Sergei Samsonovs 15th goal this season (power play) at 7:59 of the third drew Carolina within the final score.

Jay Bouwmeester and Steve Montador also scored once while Craig Anderson stopped 26 of 28 shots for the Panthers, who have been eliminated from the playoff race, but snapped a 15-game winless streak at Carolina's RBC Center.

Carolina also got goals from Eric Staal and Trevor Letowski.

Cam Ward was beaten four times on just 17 shots for the Hurricanes, whose 92 points kept them tied with idle Washington atop the Southeast Division.

The Capitals close out the regular season Saturday with home game against the Panthers.