Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres fell on home ice Monday to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, 4-3, at KeyBank Center.
A.J. Greer scored twice for the Panthers, including the game winner late in the third period.
Buffalo's penalty kill got tested early, as forward Josh Doan was sent to the box for interference just 2:16 into the game.
Florida was able to make the Sabres pay, though, as winger Sam Reinhart deflected a point shot past goalie Colten Ellis just 21 seconds into the power play opportunity.
Midway through the first period, Sabres defenseman Jacob Bryson snuck a point shot through traffic in front of Sergei Bobrovsky to even the score, 1-1.
The Panthers took the lead back again later in the opening frame, as Greer made it 2-1 on a snap shot from the faceoff circle.
The Sabres had multiple chances on the power play in the second period, as forward Sam Bennett and defenseman Jeff Petry were both penalized during the middle frame. However, neither attempt with the man advantage were successful for Buffalo.
The game found itself tied once again, though, later in the second period, as Zach Benson was in the right spot to jam home a rebound for a Tage Thompson shot to even the score, 2-2.
Florida took a 3-2 lead just past the 11-minute mark of the period, as Anton Lundell grabbed a loose puck at the side of the net after Ellis failed to cover it for a whistle.
With time running out in regulation and the Sabres needing another goal to tie the game, Greer put the game on ice with an empty-net tally with 1:14 to play and giving Florida a two-goal cushion.
The Sabres didn't go quietly, though, as winger Alex Tuch scored in the final seconds to make it 4-3 by banking a puck off Bobrovsky and just over the goal line behind him.
However, it proved to be too little, too late, as the Panthers managed to kill the remaining seconds on the clock and secure a win.
The loss would end the Sabres six-game home winning streak at KeyBank Center.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 10:19 - Jacon Bryson (2) (Ryan McLeod, Zack Metsa)
FLA: 2:35 - Sam Reinhart (24)(PPG) (Uvis Balinskis, Carter Verhaeghe); 15:11 - A.J. Greer (8) (Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe)
Second Period:
BUF: 17:57 - Zach Benson (5) (Tage Thompson, Josh Doan)
FLA: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 19:46 - Alex Tuch (15) (Bowen Byram, Rasmus Dahlin)
FLA: 11:03 - Anton Lundell (14) (Eetu Luostarinen, Gustav Forsling); 18:46 - A.J. Greer (9) (EN) (Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Anton Lundell - FLA
2.) Carter Verhaeghe - FLA
3.) Zach Benson - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres continue their homestand on Wednesday night when they welcome the Philadelphia Flyers to KeyBank Center. Faceoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., with pregame coverage on WGR Sports Radio 550 starting at 6:30 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.