Jeff Skinner scored twice as Buffalo Sabres held off a late rally for a streak-busting 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers at Key Bank Center.
The Cats were done in by another slow start and spotty goaltender, as they fell behind by two in the first period and Skinner’s second goal late in the third period, which should have been stopped, helped ice the game with the Panthers trying to force overtime.
Skinner got his first of the night at 4:42 after Mike Matheson failed to clear the zone and the Panthers proceeded to play hot potato with the puck until the sniper gained possession a second time after his pass bounced off Sam Reinhart’s skate and worked his way into the slot before solving Roberto Luongo blocker-side off the bar and down.