After active start, Panthers hold off Sabres

Aaron Ekblad scored the go-ahead goal on a second-period power play as the Florida Panthers defeated the host Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Florida also got goals from Colin White, Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Montour.

The game ended with a skirmish as several Sabres went after Tkachuk.

In a battle of backup goalies making their first starts of the season, Spencer Knight made 24 saves to earn the win.

Buffalo got goals from Alex Tuch, Zemgus Girgensons and Rasmus Dahlin. Sabres goalie Eric Comrie took the loss, making 33 saves.

The teams played to a 2-2 tie in an active first period that featured Buffalo's 18-8 advantage on face-offs. Florida had more shot attempts, however, 29-19.

Tuch opened the scoring with 10:35 gone. He used his speed to get past Marc Staal, who sipped. Tuch beat Knight with a backhander that went five-hole.

White, new to the Panthers this season after opening his career with Ottawa, tied the score about four minutes later on a one-timer from the high slot. Eetu Luostarinen got the primary assist for his set-up pass.

Florida took a 2-1 lead with 1:51 left in the first when Tkachuk -- narrowly out of the penalty box -- skated to the front of the net and knocked in a rebound off a Gustav Forsling slapshot.

Buffalo tied the score 42 seconds later as Girgensons scored from the left circle on a drop pass from JJ Peterka.

With 2:31 gone in the second, Ekblad gave Florida a 3-2 off a pass from Sam Reinhart. The pass wasn't perfect, but Ekblad retrieved it and had plenty of open ice for his wrist shot.

The Panthers made it 4-2 on Montour's power-play goal with 17:45 expired in the second. Reinhart started the play with a steal. Tkachuk drove to the net and dished to the slot, where Montour cleaned it up for the goal.

Buffalo cut its deficit to 4-3 just 76 seconds later as Dahlin took a pass from Tuch and scored despite the defensive effort of Radko Gudas.