Pominville pops Panthers in OT

Despite a solid night in net from former Albany River Rats netminder Scott Clemmensen, the Florida Panthers were edged by the Buffalo Sabres and Jason Pominville, 2-1 in overtime.  It was a tight, hard fought, down to the wire contest between both clubs.

Buffalo hopped on the board first, when late in the first Derek Roy was able to skate in and slip one past Clemmensen.  Roy’s seventh tally of the year, gave the Sabres a 1-0 edge. Yet Florida would respond with a marker of their own late in the second.  On the power-play, Jason Garrison from the circle, blasted his ninth of the season past Ryan Miller, knotting it up at 1-1.

After nothing was resolved in the third, the contest proceeded to OT. During the extra session, Paul Szczechura found a streaking Pominville up ice and the uncontested Pominville ripped one past Clemmensen for the winning tally.  Pominville’s tenth of the campaign helped the Sabres to an impressive win over the Southeast Division leading Panthers.

Additionally, Clemmensen stopped 18-of-20, while Miller turned away 22-of-23 between the pipes. With the victory Buffalo improves to 15-11-2 (32 points).  In defeat, Florida picks up a point and moves into a tie point-wise with the Philadelphia Flyers atop the Eastern Conference at 16-8-5 (37 points).

- Mike Gwizdala