Jagr provides boost in debut with Panthers
Jaromir Jagr added some spark to the Florida Panthers offence, even though he didn’t get on the scoresheet.
Jagr made his Panthers debut and Scottie Upshall scored the go-ahead goal with 5:58 left in the Panthers’ 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
Acquired from New Jersey on Thursday for two draft picks, the 43-year-old Jagr recorded three shots in a little over 17 minutes of ice time to help the Panthers outshoot the Sabres 47-14.
The Panthers had their highest scoring output in 10 games since they notched six goals against the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 10.
“I wish I could score, but it doesn’t matter, we won,” Jagr said.
“When you come to a new team, you just want the first game to be a victory and I’m happy about that.”
Brandon Pirri scored twice for the Panthers. Nick Bjugstad also scored and Derek MacKenzie added an empty-net goal with 17 seconds left. Roberto Luongo stopped 11 shots.
Jagr was on the ice for both of Pirri’s power play goals and that was no coincidence, according to Panthers coach Gerard Gallant.
“(On the) power play, he’s a special player and he gives them more ice because people are covering him,” Gallant said. “He makes people around him better. Today was a great example of our team playing better because he was there.”
Brad Boyes and Jussi Jokinen both had three assists and Brian Campbell added two.
The Panthers, who snapped a fourgame losing streak, are 4-0-1 against the Sabres this season.
Torrey Mitchell, Andrej Meszaros and Cody Hodgson scored for Buffalo. Michal Neuvirth made 42 saves.
The Sabres lost for the first time in three games.
The Panthers got stronger as the game went on and took 36 shots in the second and third periods.
“They were all over us,” Neuvirth said. “They put so many pucks on net. It was a shooting gallery in the second.”