Sunrise, Fla. (WGR 550) - A trying calendar week got off on the wrong foot for the Buffalo Sabres, who were on the losing end of a 3-2 decision against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night at Amerant Bank Arena.
The loss for Buffalo snaps not only a three-game winning streak, but also a five-game road winning streak.
The two sides played scoreless hockey until the halfway point of the opening period when Dylan Cozens and the Sabres opened the scoring in enemy territory.
Cozens played give-and-go on a man advantage with Jordan Greenway before the "Workhorse from Whitehorse" unloaded on a shot from the high slot.
Florida responded with two goals of its own before the end of the first period, though.
Forwards Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk scored for the Panthers, with Tkachuk's tally coming on a power play chance to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
Neither side found the back of the net in the middle stanza, and time was becoming the Sabres' enemy in the third period.
Matters were made worse by former Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour, who scored Florida's second power play goal of the night at the halfway point of the period.
Now down 3-1, the Sabres needed a spark and fast.
They got one from Tage Thompson, whose deflection in front of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky just seconds after an offensive zone faceoff cut the Buffalo deficit to 3-2.
Unfortunately that would be as close as the blue and gold would get as the game withered away.
The Sabres were unable to get situated in the offensive zone late, and struggled to clear their own end, at times, while trying to send Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to the bench for an extra attacker.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 9:25 - Dylan Cozens (12) PPG (Jordan Greenway, Owen Power)
FLA: 12:54 - Sam Bennett (14) (Nick Cousins, Brandon Montour); 15:36 - Matthew Tkachuk (21) PPG (Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
FLA: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 12:44 - Tage Thompson (17) (Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch)
FLA: 9:41 - Brandon Montour (5) PPG (Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart)
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Losi & Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Brandon Montour - FLA
2.) Matthew Tkachuk - FLA
3.) Sergei Bobrovsky - FLA
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What's next:
The Sabres head to Tampa Bay on Thursday to visit the Lightning at Amalie Arena. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. EST with pregame coverage on WGR with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starting at 6 p.m. EST.