Final
Sabres aim to extend surge versus Panthers
Oct 29, 2011 - 2:13 PM (Sports Network) - The Buffalo Sabres have scored at least three goals in each of their six wins this season and look to continue that trend tonight in the continuation of a season-high five-game homestand versus the Florida Panthers.Buffalo ended a two-game slide and improved to 1-1 on the residency with Thursday's 4-2 decision over the Columbus Blue Jackets at First Niagara Center behind two goals from Jason Pominville and three assists by Thomas Vanek. Vanek's third assist game him 400 career points, the 12th all-time Sabres player to reach that mark.
"We found a way. We're not too happy about the way we played, our effort," Pominville said.
Brad Boyes and Patrick Kaleta both scored for the Sabres, while Jhonas Enroth stopped 41 shots in between the pipes. Boyes scored in his second straight game after not tallying in Buffalo's first seven games. Enroth was giving starter Ryan Miller a rest and has won both of his starts this season. He improved to 11-3-2 since making his NHL debut in 2010. Miller is 10 wins shy of Dominik Hasek's franchise record of 234.
The Sabres will also host Philadelphia and Calgary on the homestand and are in the midst of playing seven of eight contests in upstate New York.
Florida is set to wrap up a three-game road trip tonight and is 1-1 so far on the swing. After defeating Montreal to open the trek, the Panthers suffered a 4-3 loss in Ottawa on Thursday at ScotiaBank Place.
Jason Garrison, Stephen Weiss and Kris Versteeg had a goal apiece for Florida, which got 34 stops from goaltender Jacob Markstrom and had won two in a row and four of six contests.
"It was pretty dramatic, that's for sure," Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen said. "When you end up on the wrong side of these games it certainly has a lot of sting. There are some lessons to be learned."
The Panthers will return to the Sunshine State after Saturday's tilt in Buffalo to host Winnipeg, Chicago and Tampa Bay. Forward Mikael Samuelsson (groin) and goaltender Jose Theodore (lower body) are questionable.
Buffalo defeated Florida, 3-0, back on Oct. 20 at BankAtlantic Center, as Miller recorded his first shutout this season and 23rd of his career with 22 saves. Vanek scored twice and Pominville added the other goal and two assists for Buffalo, which has won three straight and 11 of the past 15 meetings with the Panthers.
Florida only has four wins and a tie in its last 15 trips to Buffalo.
- FLORIDA: 3
BUFFALO: 2
Final
Oct 29 9:42 PM - FLORIDA: 1
BUFFALO: 1
End of 2nd
Oct 29 8:37 PM - Florida Goal - Marcel Goc (2), from Tomas Kopecky at 6:48.
Panthers 1, Sabres 0 2nd - 13:12Oct 29 8:20 PM - FLORIDA: 0
BUFFALO: 0
End of 1st
Oct 29 8:16 PM - FLORIDA: 0
BUFFALO: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Oct 29 7:09 PM
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