The Florida Panthers posted seven goals to halt their two-game skid with a 7-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.
In their two recent losses, Florida struggled to find the back of the net and paid in the final scores. That story changed in a hurry in this one, as the Panthers scored three times in the first period alone. The frenzy of scoring was reminiscent of Florida's high-octane offense during its recent winning streaks.
At the 7:40 mark of the first period, Reilly Smith got Florida on the board first with his 17th goal of the season. Jussi Jokinen and Vincent Trocheck assisted on the goal.
Over the next 12 minutes, Florida added two more goals to make it 3-0 in a hurry. Brian Campbell's fifth goal of the season made the score 2-0 with a helping hand from Alex Petrovic and Nick Bjugstad. Shortly after this score, Jokinen scored a goal of his own to extend the lead. Jokinen's 11th goal of the season was assisted on by Trocheck and Smith.
After the first intermission, Florida entered the second period with a quick goal to make it 4-0. Petrovic's second goal of the season at the 22-second mark came with an assist from Bjugstad.
In its second three-goal period of the game, Florida would add two more goals in 18 minutes. Brandon Pirri put home his 11th goal of the season at the 7:39 mark of the period. Pirri's goal had assists credited to Brian Campbell and Quinton Howden on it.
Not to be outdone, the ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr added Florida's sixth goal of the season at the 17:53 mark of the period. Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad picked up assists on Jagr's 17th goal of the season.
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Smith would add an empty-net goal with less than two minutes to go in the final period to round out the scoring on the day.
Florida will host the St. Louis Blues on Friday as it looks to make it two wins in a row.
