Sabres Shut Out Panthers

The Florida Panthers returned home after a short two-game road trip against the Southeast Division and were defeated by the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 on Thursday night at the Bank Atlantic Center. The game was scoreless after one period. Buffalo got the lead 2:33 into the second period. Keaton Ellerby's clearing pass out of the Panthers zone was stopped at the blue line by Tyler Myers. He found Jason Pominville at the top of the right circle, who followed with a slap shot that was redirected in the crease by Tomas Vanek while screening Jose Theodore on the play. The Sabres again capitalized on an attempted clear-out pass by Ellerby. Ville Leino stopped the puck on the left-wing boards, skated through the left circle, backhanded a pass across the low slot, then Pomanville put in a one-time at 16:56. Vanek scored his second goal of the game, sixth of the season, on the power play with 2:29 left. Vanek scored his second goal of the game, his sixth this season, on the power play with 2:29 left in the game. He got a cross-ice feed from Pominville, then teed up a slap shot from the right inner circle. Ryan Miller picked up his 23rd shutout of his career. The Panthers best chance to score happened 13:52 into the first period when Kris Versteeg blasted a 20-foot shot from the slot. Florida hosts the New York Islanders on Saturday night.