Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550/WBEN) - Carter Verhaeghe scored twice for the Florida Panthers, while goalie Anthony Stolarz turned aside all 45 shots thrown his way in a 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at KeyBank Center.
A turnover in Buffalo's own zone resulted in the game's first goal against the Sabres.
Verhaeghe scored his 27th goal of the year on a one-timer following a steal by Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov behind the Buffalo goal. Florida took a 1-0 lead nearly halfway through the first period.
The Sabres were credited with 11 shots on goal in the opening period, narrowing the gap to 14-11 in favor of Florida. Eric Comrie made 13 saves in the first for Buffalo, while Stolarz stopped all 11 shots faced.
Neither team received a power play chance in the first period.
The next goal of the game did not come until less than three minutes remaining in the second period when Anton Lundell was credited with his seventh goal of the year to double Florida's lead to 2-0. The score came with an extra skater on the ice due to a delayed penalty against the Sabres that was negated.
Each team had a power play chance in the second period, but neither were able to convert.
Buffalo outshot the Panthers, 17-6, in the period, as well.
Sam Reinhart gave up a chance for his 40th goal of the season late in the third period, and instead passed to Verhaeghe on a 2-on-1 chance on an empty net.
Ryan Lomberg capped the scoring with a power play goal with less than a minute remaining in regulation. The score made it 4-0 after Zach Benson was in the penalty box for high sticking.
The Sabres were credited with 45 shots on goal in the defeat.
Comrie made 27 saves in the losing effort. He made the start after it was announced earlier on Thursday that starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
FLA: 9:26 - Carter Verhaeghe (27) (Aleksander Barkov)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
FLA: 17:16 - Anton Lundell (7) (Matthew Tkachuk, Gustav Forsling)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
FLA: 18:27 - Carter Veraeghe (28) ENG (Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov); 19:48 - Ryan Lomberg (4) PPG (Gustav Forsling, Anton Lundell)
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Losi & Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Anthony Stolarz - FLA
2.) Carter Verhaeghe - FLA
3.) Anton Lundell - FLA
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What's next:
The Sabres will head on the road for one game, taking on the Minnesota Wild for a 5 o'clock faceoff at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - beginning at 4 p.m. EST with Derek Kramer.