He didn’t get to grin much after the game, either.
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It was the Sabres’ first road game of the season.
“It would have been nice to get a win and enjoy it a little bit more”, McCabe said in BB&T Center, “but it is nice to get the first one”. Buffalo hadn’t won in Florida since October 25, 2013 with Ron Rolston as head coach.
A section of glass was dislodged by a check in Florida’s zone with 2:53 left in the first period.
On the positive side, the Sabres have the eighth best powerplay in the league at 27.8% (5/18) and they’re averaging two goals per game, something we haven’t seen since the 2012-13 season. “I liked how he got it. It was a nice drive wide by Marcus with the D-man joining the play”.
“Dan is definitely big on defensemen if it’s the right spot to jump up in the play and be offensive in that aspect”. “It was a good team effort (Tuesday) and I was happy with the performance”. “I’m just trying to keep it going”.
The goal came during a heavy second-period push by the Sabres, who fell into a 2-0 hole during the first period.
Jagr appears to have been rejuvenated since joining the Panthers in February and paired with youngsters Jonathan Huberdeau and Barkov. He signed with New Jersey before last season, then was dealt to the Panthers shortly after his 43rd birthday in February and recorded six goals and 12 assists in 20 games.
Tyler Ennis grabbed his first goal of the season with 7:25 remaining in regulation as his slap shot found the back of the net behind Roberto Luongo on the power play.
Jagr needs 42 more points to tie Gordie Howe for third all-time and is 79 points behind Mark Messier for second. Jason Spezza leads Dallas with four goals, Ales Hemsky has two assists and Cody Eakin has 10 shots on goal.
“That guy’s a brick wall, very talented, and that’s why he’s still playing”, Foligno said of Jagr. “You catch yourself wide-eyed maybe when you step out for warm-ups and you see him across the ice”. The Sabres have been picked by most national pundits to finish toward the bottom of the standings once more, perhaps putting them in position to nab another top prospect to pair Eichel with.
“Their power play was clicking”.
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Leading 2-1 after two, Jagr set up the insurance tally on the another power-play goal as his blast off Johnson’s pads bounced to Barkov for the rebound at 4:24 of the third. “Obviously, that is what cost us the game is special teams”.
