Buffalo shuts out Florida as goalie Anders Nilsson makes 33 saves for his first shutout in more than 4 years.
From sabres.com, Anders Nilsson made 33 saves to help the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-0 win against the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center on Saturday.
Nilsson’s second career shutout came in his third consecutive start. It was hid first shutout since March 4, 2012 when he made 24 saves against the New Jersey Devils as a member of the New York Islanders.
Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck had a chance to break the shutout when he was awarded a penalty shot with 57 seconds remaining after he was hooked on a breakaway, but shot his attempt over the net.
The Sabres (2-3-2) ended a four-game losing streak. The Panthers (3-4-1) have lost three straight.
Johan Larsson gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead 7:47 into the first period with his first goal of the season. Larsson received a pass from Greece native and team captain Brian Gionta, and took a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that beat Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo over his left shoulder.
Kyle Okposo gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal 5:57 into the second period. Okposo put a rebound of a Rasmus Ristolainen shot that was tipped by Sam Reinhart and went off the crossbar past Luongo for his second goal of the season and first at home as a member of the Sabres.
Reinhart gave the Sabres a 3-0 lead with a power-play goal 8:48 into the third period. After Jaromir Jagr took a hooking penalty, Reinhart sent a pass from behind the net that Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk inadvertently kicked through Luongo’s five-hole.
Pysyk and Sabres defenseman Dmitry Kulikov each played against their former team for the first time since they were traded for each other June 25 at the 2016 NHL Draft.