WASHINGTON -- Florida goalie Scott Clemmensen took his lumps during a third-period meltdown Saturday night as he surrendered five goals of a 7-4 loss to the host Capitals. After the game, he placed much of the blame on Florida's defensive deficiencies.

``One thing we need to work on is our coverage down low and behind the net,'' said Clemmensen, who has given up at least five goals in each of his past two starts. ``I'm not sure how it gets so bad at times. It's just a matter of knowing your responsibilities. We've got to work on things in practice. Unless we do that, so guys know what they're doing, then we're not going to get any better at it.''

Florida led 3-2 going into the third before things collapsed. Washington scored two goals within the first four minutes to take the lead before Cory Stillman tied it back up. But the Capitals kept pushing and scored three more. Clemmensen quickly has figured out he's not playing for the defense-first New Jersey Devils anymore.

``I'm still learning how to play for this team,'' he said. ``It's very different from what I'm used to in the past with New Jersey. For me, at this point, it's been kind of survival.''

Coach Pete DeBoer says he understands that his goalie was upset after Saturday's horrid finish but wouldn't put the blame solely on his defense like Clemmensen did.

``If I was a goaltender who gave up 14 goals in my last three starts, I might be a little frustrated, too,'' DeBoer said Sunday afternoon. ``It's mistaken, but everyone has their opinion, has their say.''

Tomas Vokoun has been very critical of the play of his teammates in his first two years with the Panthers and has remained popular in the locker room. Clemmensen is a laid-back person who seems to have made friends among his new teammates. DeBoer doesn't think Clemmensen's recent statements will alienate him.

``I'm not worried about other guys taking that wrong,'' DeBoer said. ``There are personal results and everyone has self-reflection in pro sports. This is a big part of that. This is a team game, and 20 guys were out there. It's an important part of the game. We all need to do a better job.''

Clemmensen on DeBoer's decision not to bring in Vokoun in the third when things had obviously spun out of control: ``There wasn't much he could do. It was like quicksand out there.''

KOISTINEN BENCHED

DeBoer said Ville Koistinen was benched during Saturday's game because, ``I made the decision he couldn't help us. It was that simple.''

Signed as a free agent defenseman on July 1, Koistinen spent the preseason playing defense. But for Florida's opener against Chicago in Helsinki, Finland, Koistinen was put with the forwards, a move that was thought to be a short-term answer. He has been there ever since.

And he isn't playing much. In five recent games, Koistinen has played fewer than 10 shifts with less than nine minutes of ice time. Saturday, Koistinen got two shifts even though the Panthers were short-handed with the loss of Gregory Campbell.

``He's a defenseman. We had six healthy defensemen,'' DeBoer said. ``I've been playing him as a forward because I've had to piece together a lineup. But he's not a forward, it's not his natural position.''

• DeBoer said he is hopeful Campbell will return to the lineup Thursday after the center took a hard slap shot to the face. Campbell spent most of the second half of the game being examined and stitched up -- all in full uniform so he could return to the game if given clearance by the medical staff. He was not granted permission to return. Campbell was being examined by Florida medical staff Sunday.

``We want to make sure there are no fractures,'' DeBoer said. ``It was a significant cut. He had damage to his teeth.

``If he can eat, hold down food, he's going to try and play.''

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