ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

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SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Buffalo Sabres beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 Thursday night, reaching the .500 mark for the first time since the end of the 2012-13 season.

Eight different Sabres players got points in the game and netminder Linus Ullmark made 36 saves in the win.

Brian Gionta started the scoring at 19:28 of the first period, assisted by Matt Moulson and Rasmus Ristolainen.

Jonathan Huberdeau tied the game for Florida at 9:35 of the second period. Nick Bjugstad and Jaromir Jagr assisted. At 18:53, Cody Franson put the Sabres back on top, assisted by Carlo Colaiacovo and David Legwand.

Sam Reinhart put the Sabres up 3-1 with a power play goal at 3:38 of the third period. Tyler Ennis and Ristolainen assisted. With 4 minutes to play in the game, Vincent Trocheck brought Florida to back within a goal, assisted by Aaron Ekblad and Jussi Jokinen. A last-minute flurry by Florida came up empty as Ullmark stopped everything that was thrown at him -- including a shot that went off his helmet.

The Sabres, now 8-8, next play the San Jose Sharks on Saturday in Buffalo.

NOTES:

• The Sabres improved to 113-64-33 when playing on a Buffalo Bills gameday and the Bills improved to 89-119-2 on those dates.
• The Sabres and Bills have now played on the same date 210 times, with both teams winning their respective games on 47 of those days.
• Thursday was a successful #OneBuffalo rematch from Jan. 1, 2006, when the Panthers beat the Sabres and the Jets beat the Bills.
• With the Bills win, the @BuffaloSabres and @buffalobills both won on the same day for the first time since Jan. 3, 2010.

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