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Panthers edge Sabres in shootout

Jan 10, 2014 - 6:48 AM Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Brad Boyes scored in regulation and notched a fortunate goal in the shootout as the Florida Panthers edged the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, in an odd finish at First Niagara Center.

The Panthers had a potential go-ahead goal late in regulation denied due to a quick whistle, and Jonathan Huberdeau had his chance in the second round of the shootout waved off when, upon replay, it was ruled he pushed Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth into the net as the puck crossed the goal line.

Boyes, though, finished off Florida's second win in three games in the next round, as his wrister hit off the post, then bounced off the back of Enroth's sweater for the deciding tally.

"He's one of the best in the league in shootouts .. I've got to give it to him. Good shot," said Enroth of Boyes, who is 6-of-9 in shootout tries this season.

Tim Thomas stopped all three chances he faced in the shootout and finished with 23 saves, and Enroth had his 34-save effort go for naught.

Jamie McBain scored the only goal in regulation for the Sabres, who had their five-game home winning streak stopped.

The Sabres, after failing on two power-play chances in the first period, opened the scoring 5:13 into the second. Matt D'Agostini sent a drop pass along the boards to Steve Ott on an odd-man rush, and McBain took Ott's centering feed and beat Thomas stick side with a wrister.

Thomas denied Brian Flynn on a breakaway minutes later, and Enroth kept the Panthers off the board when he kicked his leg out and stuffed Sean Bergenheim on a wraparound attempt in the closing minutes of the second.

Bergenheim was stopped again midway through the third, but Enroth lost his stick on the play and was sprawled out on the ice when Tom Gilbert fired a slap shot that was deflected into the back of the net by Boyes with 10:44 remaining in regulation.

The Panthers appeared to net the go-ahead goal less than four minutes later, but a quick whistle due to an injury blew the play dead.

"The way we played we should have had two points...and we found a way," Boyes said.

Game Notes

Boyes ranks first among active skaters with 37 shootout goals ... Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell played in his 800th career game ... The Sabres have not won six straight in Buffalo since Jan. 17 to Feb. 15, 2007 ... Buffalo fell to 5-2 in shootouts, while Florida improved to 6-5 ... The Sabres were playing for the first time since last Saturday since their game on Tuesday against Carolina was postponed due to hazardous weather conditions in the Buffalo area ... Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers began a three-game suspension stemming from an illegal check in Saturday's win over New Jersey ... Panthers rookie Aleksander Barkov had his point streak end at six games.