- Brady Tkachuk recorded his first point as a Panther on a between-the-legs pass
- Sam Reinhart scored on the feed to tie the game 3-3 in the second period
- Read below for what Paul Maurice said and how the Sabres pulled away
Brady Tkachuk is on the board in Florida.
The Panthers winger picked up his first point since the trade from Ottawa, setting up Sam Reinhart with a between-the-legs backhand pass in Monday’s 5-3 loss to the Sabres, per NHL.com’s game recap.
Tkachuk got the puck at the far side of the net on the power play and slid it through his legs to Reinhart at 13:41 of the second period. Reinhart finished it to make it 3-3. Watch the feed:
Tkachuk was acquired from the Senators on June 23, and this was his first point in six games with Florida. Coach Paul Maurice talked about Tkachuk’s game afterward and said he isn’t focused on the points.
“I’ve been fine with his game. He’s netfront and battling all night,” Maurice said. “The puck went for him. I thought he was close to having that happen five or six times since he’s been here, so I haven’t spent any time worrying about his points.”
Tkachuk finished with seven hits and three shots on goal in 16:32. His older brother Matthew was also in the middle of things in this one, as he and Zach Benson went at it earlier in the game:
Reinhart scored twice for the Panthers, who have lost four of their last five and sit at 2-2-2. Jacob Markstrom was pulled after the first period when Maurice said he “tightened up,” and Akira Schmid stopped 18 shots in relief.
Buffalo took control in the third. Noah Ostlund scored on the power play at 7:15 to make it 4-3, and Tage Thompson sealed it at 13:20 with a blocker-side shot. The win came at a cost, though, as Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin left with an upper-body injury.
Florida is already without Brad Marchand, who is out six weeks. The Panthers visit the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
