Huberdeau scores twice as Panthers beat Sabres
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice as the Florida Panthers, playing their final home game of the season, defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 on Saturday night at the BB&T Center.
Goalie James Reimer made 30 saves for his second shutout of the season, and Nick Bjugstad added a goal. Huberdeau has 10 goals this season, and Bjugstad has seven.
Florida (34-36-11) broke a season-worst six-game losing streak, earning just its sixth victory in its past 23 games.
Buffalo (33-36-12), which is 5-5-0 in its past 10 games, could not beat Reimer. Sabres goalie Robin Lehner made 34 saves.
In a battle between two teams already eliminated from playoff contention, this was the final game in the NHL career of Panthers retiring left winger Shawn Thornton, 39.
There were no goals in the first period, but Huberdeau almost got one with 3:55 remaining. His breakaway attempt was thwarted by Lehner's right pad, and the puck stopped just a few inches from going in before being cleared off the line by defenseman Josh Gorges.
Bjugstad, on a wrist shot from the left side of the net, opened the scoring with 7:45 elapsed in the second period. He took a great pass from Thomas Vanek, and Reilly Smith earned the secondary assist.
After a high-sticking penalty on Evander Kane for high-sticking Derek MacKenzie, Huberdeau's power-play goal made it 2-0 with 17:03 gone in the second period. When Huberdeau saw the loose puck sitting behind Lehner and just a foot off the line, he swooped in and his entire body was in the net when he dragged the puck in behind him.
Huberdeau scored again with 5:55 left in the third period as his wrap-around attempt bounced in off Lehner.
NOTES: The Panthers were without three injured stars: G Roberto Luongo (lower body), D Aaron Ekblad (concussion) and C Aleksander Barkov (upper body). ... Panthers LW Jussi Jokinen is out with an undisclosed injury. ... Florida rested D Jason Demers and D Jakub Kindl in order to play rookie defensemen Ian McCoshen and MacKenzie Weegar. ... Sabres RW Kyle Okposo has been hospitalized due to an undisclosed illness that has the team and coach Dan Bylsma "very concerned." ... Buffalo was also without LW Marcus Foligno (knee) and G Anders Nilsson (undisclosed). Sabres previously ruled out for the season were D Taylor Fedun (foot) and C Johan Larsson (wrist). ... Florida plays its season finale on Sunday at the Washington Capitals. ... Buffalo ends its season on Sunday at the Tampa Bay Lightning.