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Sabres top Panthers in OT

Dec 14, 2014 - 5:01 AM Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Nikita Zadorov scored his first goal of the season 29 seconds into overtime to send the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

Brian Gionta's third-period goal tied the game for the Sabres and ended a run of three straight Panthers goals. Buffalo also got goals from Cody Hodgson and Marcus Foligno to win its third straight game.

Jhonas Enroth made 25 saves in the win.

Sean Bergenheim and Jimmy Hayes scored second-period goals to erase a 2-0 deficit for Florida, which lost two of three games on its road trip.

Al Montoya made 28 saves for the Panthers but did not stop the only shot he faced in OT.

"It seems like it's common ground these last couple of games in that first period we start digging ourselves a hole," Montoya said.

Tyler Ennis' puck-handling at the side of the net caught the attention of the Panthers defense, and they missed Zadorov jumping into the play from the point on the backside. Zadorov then wristed the puck by Montoya to end it.

The Panthers took their first lead of the game 57 seconds into the final period. A Sabres neutral-zone turnover sent Dave Bolland skating the other way. Bolland connected with Jokinen and his shot found the back of the net.

Later in the third, Tyler Myers found Gionta with a stretch pass through the neutral zone that sent the Buffalo captain in on a breakaway. Gionta's shot beat Montoya to tie the game at 3-3 with 12:33 left.

Buffalo needed just 2:06 to take the lead in the first period. Hodgson was scratched in Thursday's game and hasn't scored since Oct. 25, but he was able to find a soft spot in the defense, receive a pass from Patrick Kaleta and wrist a shot by Montoya.

"It's nice to get on the board offensively, but more important to be part of the team and be on the ice," Hodgson said.

Eleven minutes later, Foligno extended the Sabres lead with an wrist shot that found its way past Montoya.

A Sabres giveaway a minute into the middle period got the Panthers back into the game. Rasmus Ristolainen gave away the puck at the side of the net and Bergenheim was right there to capitalize with his fifth goal of the season.

Not even five minutes later, Bergenheim spotted Hayes standing alone at the opposite goal post. His pass across the crease was on the mark, and Hayes lifted the puck by Enroth to tie the game.

Game Notes

Buffalo has won five straight home games ... The Sabres win snapped a four- game losing streak at home to the Panthers ... Buffalo's Drew Stafford has two goals and two assists in a four game point streak ... This is only the third time this season the Sabres have outshot their opponent ... Montoya played in his 100th NHL game.