Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres went toe-to-toe on Sunday afternoon with the top team in the Eastern Conference at KeyBank Center.
Despite falling behind 4-1 early to the Florida Panthers in the third period, Buffalo stayed in the fight with a pair of power play goals to cut the deficit to 4-3. However, penalty trouble late got the best of the Sabres, as Florida added a power play tally of their own to down Buffalo, 5-3.
It was a fairly evenly played first period, but the Sabres broke through late in the first period with just 2:47 remaining, as Kyle Okposo tipped home a Mattias Samuelsson shot from the point. It was Okposo's 18th goal of the season.
Florida responded with a dominating second period performance, peppering Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski with 22 shots.
The Panthers tied up the score at the 6:18 into the second as Claude Giroux found Jonathan Huberdeau in the slot for his 24th goal of the season and franchise record-breaking 97th point of the season.
The Panthers took the lead nearly 10 minutes later as Anton Lundell slammed home a rebound, making it 2-1. Florida continued to pour it on over a minute later, as Anthony Duclair scored just to extend the Panthers' lead to 3-1.
Duclair scored again to make the score 4-1 just 57 seconds into the third period, netting his 28th goal of the season.
The Sabres stormed back midway through the third period, as they managed to score on back-to-back power plays.
Jeff Skinner made it a two-goal game after his goal was initially waved off for goalie interference. Sabres head coach Don Granato challenged the call made on the ice, and it was overturned to be a good goal.
Just moments later, Florida took another penalty, which resulted in Tage Thompson ripping home his 31st goal of the season to bring the Sabres back to within one.
Buffalo's comeback was halted, though, as back-to-back penalties in the final three minutes put the Sabres at a two-man disadvantage.
Florida iced the game with 1:35 remaining in regulation, as MacKenzie Weeger scored to extend the Panthers' lead to 5-3.
That's how it all finished, as the Sabres' eight-game point streak came to an end with the loss in regulation. Meanwhile, the win helped the Panthers be the first team in the NHL this season to clinch a playoff berth.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 17:13 - Kyle Okposo (18) (Mattias Samuelsson, Cody Eakin)
FLA: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
FLA: 6:18 - Jonathan Huberdeau (24) (Claude Giroux); 15:55 - Anton Lundell (15) (Ben Chiarot, Mason Marchment); 17:01 - Anthony Duclair (27) (Gustav Forsling, MacKenzie Weeger)
Third Period:
BUF: 8:25 - Jeff Skinner (28) (Casey Mittelstadt, Alex Tuch); 10:19 - Tage Thompson (31) (Jeff Skinner, Casey Mittelstadt)
FLA: 0:57 - Anthony Duclair (28) (Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe); MacKenzie Weeger (7) (Claude Giroux, Aleksander Barkov)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
FLA: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 10:17 - Alex Tuch (Hooking - 2 min.)
FLA: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 17:02 - Tage Thompson (Tripping - 2 min.); 18:25 - Mattias Samuelsson (Hooking - 2 min.)
FLA: 7:25 - Robert Hagg (Holding - 2 min.); 9:20 - Anthony Duclair (Slashing - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jonathan Huberdeau - FLA
2.) Anthony Duclair - FLA
3.) Kyle Okposo - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres finish off their four-game homestand on Tuesday as they welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to KeyBank Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET with pregame coverage on WGR with Schopp and the Bulldog starting at 6 p.m. ET.
