Panthers Hold Off Sabres

     The Florida Panthers played the final game of a three-game road trip and beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 at First Niagara Center on Tuesday night. The Cats have won three of their last five games.
     Buffalo(13-28-7) scored on their first power play of the game just 2:23 into the first period. Steve Ott had the puck in the right circle and passed it to the middle where Drew Stafford snapped a shot by the glove of Tim Thomas for a 1-0 lead.
     It was a short time before Florida(20-23-7) would tie the game at 4:06. Jonathan Huberdeau passed the puck from the left corner to the left point Ed Jovanovski. His slapshot was deflected by Jesse Winchester in the left circle past the right shoulder of Ryan Miller.
     Stafford scored his second goal of the game at 6:16 on a wrist shot from the slot as the Sabres regained the lead 2-1. Huberdeau was checked off the puck by the right-wing wall and Tyler Ennis backhanded a pass to Stafford.
     With 1:56 left in the first, the Panthers matched the Sabres again with a goal. Aleksander Barkov moved the puck to the Tom Gilbert on the right point. He fired a shot that was redirected by Sean Bergenheim in the low slot for his 11th goal this season.
     Jovanovski would get his first goal since April 2012 to give Florida their first lead of the game 3-2 with 1:04 to go. He get the biscuit at center ice and carried the puck into the Buffalo. He blasted a slapshot after crossing the blue line that was deflected off a defenders stick and by Miller.
     The Cats moved the margin up to 4-2 with 3:48 left in the second period. Brian Campbell began a rush up the ice and sent a left outlet pass to Nick Bjugstad at the Sabres line. He raced down the left side and snapped in a goal from the left circle for his 11th goal this season.
     In the third period, the Sabres pulled to within one goal on the power play with 11:25 to go. Ott was able to put in a wrist shot from close range.