Montour’s 3-Point Night Leads Panthers over Sabres

SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers jumped up to first place in the NHL on Tuesday night after defeating the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 at Amerant Bank Arena.

The Panthers are winners of their last five games on home ice and are 39-16-4 on the season. 

Sergei Bobrovsky had 28 saves in his 29th win of the season — third most in the league.

“It’s a good win for us,” Bobrovsky said. “Another different opponent, they had lots of skill… It was a good challenge for us.”

Dylan Cozens opened the scoring with a power play goal, 9:25 into the first — putting the Sabres up early on the road. 

Despite conceding first, the Panthers wouldn’t trail for too long. Sam Bennett tied the game with his 14th goal of the season, less than four minutes after Cozens’ goal.

Matthew Tkachuk gave Florida their first lead of the night 13:56 into the first period, with his 21st goal of the season. Tkachuk returned to the lineup on Tuesday night after missing Florida’s last game with an upper-body injury. 

Tkachuk continues to be an offensive force, since the start of January. In his last 22 games he has 40 points — third most in the NHL.

“The path that Matthew took to points this year was really important because he didn’t cheat the game early on when he wasn’t scoring,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “There was no selfishness, he was fine with it. He truly was when he talked to us.”

Brandon Montour had a big night on the scoresheet, scoring the game-winning goal and picking up two assists on Tuesday. Montour had just 12 points in the first 38 games of the season. He has 10 points in his past five games — three of them being multi-point nights.

Tage Thompson kept the Sabres in the game late in the third, cutting the deficit to one with 7:56 to go in regulation, but the comeback effort fell short. 

The Panthers have been outstandingly consistent on the defensive side of play since the middle of January — conceding two or fewer goals in 14 straight games. 

“We do have a lot of really good offensive players in here, but at the end of the day defense wins,” Tkachuk said. “We’re all so committed to that, especially after last year. Learning that style, playing it over and over and over again. It’s kind of just in our brains now.”

Panthers Notes 

Carter Verhaeghe left the game in the third period, he took a “puck to the face” and will be ok, per Maurice

Kevin Stenlund also returned to the ice Tuesday after missing the last game against Washington

Florida’s next game is Thursday, Feb. 29 at home against Montreal