Panthers Knock Off Sabres

     The Florida Panthers stopped a two-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night at First Niagara Center. The Panthers, who have won six of their last eight games, are now 23-0-1 when they scored at least three goals in a game.
     Florida came out strong in the first period as they scored two goals in a three-minute span. Reilly Smith rocketed a shot from the top right circle at 7:40 and Brian Campbell followed with a shot from the left wing at 10:45.
     Jussi Jokinen make it a three-goal margin with 24.6 seconds left in the period. Vincent Trocheck backhanded a pass from the end wall to Smith in the right circle. He make a touch pass across to Jokinen who swept in the puck from the low slot. 
     The Cats exteneded it to 4-0 just 22 seoncds into the second period. Nick Bjugstad won the right circle draw and Alex Petrovic blasted a slapshot from the right wing. The Sabres replaced Robin Lehner in net with Chad Johnson after the tally.  
     The strategy worked as Buffalo scored a power-play goal at 1:09. Sam Reinhart recovered the puck after in bounced off the end wall and scored from the right side of the crease.
     The Sabres cut the margin down to 4-2 at 5:04 when Reinhart collected his second power-play goal while on the doorstep. Jack Eichel sent a cross-ice pass from the left side to Ryan O'Reilly in the right circle and he one-timed a pass to the crease.
     The Panthers moved it back to a three-goal cushion when Brandon Pirri deflected in a Campbell slapshot from the left point at 7:39. 
     Jaromir Jagr would get his 739th NHL goal with 2:07 remaining in the frame. He made a give-an d-go pass with Jonathan Huberdeau in the right circle and finished the play. Jagr now stands two goals behind Brett Hull for third place in NHL history.
     In the third period, Buffalo added two goals by Evander Kane from the right wing at 10:14 and Mike Weber at 17:17 from the left wing.
     The Sabres pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, however Smith rolled the puck in on a shot from the red line with 1:57 to go.