Sean Malone makes his NHL debut against the Panthers
By Alain Poupart / NHL.com Correspondent
SUNRISE, FL. — James Reimer made 30 saves and Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice when the Florida Panthers ended a six-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory against the Buffalo Sabres at BB&T Center on Saturday.
The shutout was Reimer’s second of the season. The first came in a 7-0 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 25.
Florida (34-36-11) moved one point ahead of the Sabres for sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Both teams have been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.
Nick Bjugstad also scored for the Panthers, who won for the sixth time in 22 games. Jaromir Jagr had two assists. The six-game losing streak was Florida’s longest since early in the 2013-14 season.
Robin Lehner made 34 saves for Buffalo (33-36-12), which has lost four of five.
Linus Ullmark was recalled on Friday and will serve as the backup, with Anders Nilsson’s season over due to an injury.
“He took a shot in the arm,” Bylsma said, referring to Nilsson. “He practiced yesterday but just not able really to play in a game. It was something that got kind of worse as the practice went on.”
Sabres forward Sean Malone made his NHL debut two nights after playing for Notre Dame in the NCAA Frozen Four in Chicago. Malone began the game centering a line with Zemgus Girgensons on the left wing and Nicolas Deslauriers on the right. He becomes the third Sabre to make his NHL debut since April began, joining C.J. Smith and Alexander Nylander.
The Sabres signed Malone to a two-year, entry-level contract.
A native of West Seneca, N.Y., Malone (21, 6-foot-0, 190 lbs.) recently completed his senior season at Harvard University (ECAC), where he ranked third on the team with 42 points (18+27) in 36 games played. He finished his collegiate career with 99 points (42+57) and a plus-31 rating in 115 games.
Drafted by the Sabres in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Malone was named the Ivy League’s Co-Rookie of the Year following the 2013-14 season and earned All-ECAC Tournament Team honors this season.
Buffalo closes out the season on Sunday against Tampa Bay Lightning, who were eliminated from the playoffs Saturday when the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-3.