These Florida Panthers just seem to feel at home while playing on the road.
The Cats welcomed captain Sasha Barkov back in the lineup for the first time since their second game of the season, and Florida skated to a strong 5-2 win over the host Buffalo Sabres.
It was the Panthers sixth straight victory away from South Florida, and they jumped out to a quick start thanks to a pair of goals scored less than a minute apart.
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First it was Jesper Boqvist finishing off a nice feed from Anton Lundell to put the Cats up 1-0, then 55 seconds later with Florida on the power play, Sam Reinhart popped home a Sasha Barkov centering pass and just like that Florida led by two.
Buffalo turned things around on the Panthers midway through the second period after a high sticking call on Eetu Luostarinen.
Jason Zucker cashed in on the power play to draw the Sabres within one, and less than two minutes later it was Rasmus Dahlin dangling the puck through Florida’s defense and past Sergei Bobrovsky to tie the game at the 12:37 mark.
A huge sliding save by Bobrovsky with his right leg on Owen Power kept the game tied at two as the Sabres pressed, but it was shortly after that Florida re-took the lead.
After crossing the blue line, Sam Bennett drove straight through Buffalo’s zone while Matthew Takchuk fired a shot off Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s chest.
Carter Verhaeghe pounced on the fluttering rebound, giving Florida a lead they’d carry into the final frame.
Some chippy play during the third period, highlighted by a slash to Lundell’s face by Dahlin, gave Florida a late power play.
Sam Bennett walked the puck into the right faceoff circle, picked the far corner and beat Luukkonen to give the Cats a two-goal lead with 5:25 to go.
Just over a minute later, Barkov found himself in a similar spot in the right circle and picked the same spot as Bennett, low blocker, and scored his first goal of the season to give the Cats a 5-2 lead.
Florida is now 6-1-1 over their past eight games.
On to Finland.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Bennett has now scored goals in five straight games. He’s up to eight goals and 12 points so far this season.
Barkov logged a goal and an assist in his first game since Oct. 10.
After going the first eight games of the season without a goal, Verhaeghe has now scored in two of his past three outings.
Verhaeghe also extended his points streak to seven games.
Lundell picked up an assist and is now up to 12 points this season, with 11 coming in his past eight games.
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