BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Florida Panthers captain Ed Jovanovski finally has something to show for all the pain he went through in overcoming a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the past two years. Playing only his ninth game of the season since recovering from hip surgery, the veteran defenceman scored the go-ahead goal and added an assist in sparking a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. The goal came in Jovanovskis 1,100th career game and was his first since April 5, 2012. So forgive him if he had difficulty recalling the last time he scored. "Oh, has it been that long?" the 37-year-old said. "Im getting a little up there. But I think for me, having the opportunity to be in the dressing room and going out there and doing something that I love, thats a privilege." He even got a fortunate bounce in putting the Panthers ahead 3-2 with 1:04 left in the first period. Jovanovskis shot from the top of the left circle deflected in off the stick of Sabres defenceman Mike Weber. With Jovanovski providing the offence, another member of the Panthers old guard did his part to ensure the lead stood up. Veteran goalie Tim Thomas stopped 32 shots, including 15 in the final period to improve to 7-3-2 in his past 12. "Yeah, it was a little bit of chaos there for a while," the 39-year-old Thomas said. "But it must have been entertaining for the fans. And I can laugh at it because we came out on top." The Panthers (20-23-7) improved to 4-2-1 in their past seven, and secured wins on consecutive nights. Florida was coming off a 5-1 win at Pittsburgh that snapped the Penguins franchise-record home winning streak at 13. Sean Bergenheim, Jesse Winchester and Nick Bjugstad also scored for Florida, which improved to 4-0-1 in its past five trips to Buffalo. Tom Gilbert set up two goals in helping the Panthers overcome a pair of one-goal first-period deficits. Drew Stafford scored twice and Steve Ott also scored for the Sabres (13-28-7), who dropped to 0-2-2 in their past four. Otts goal 8:36 into the third period cut the Panthers lead to 4-3, but the Sabres failed to capitalize on three power-play chances over the final 7:13. That included a 4-minute power-play after Panthers forward Brad Boyes was issued a double-minor penalty for high-sticking Sabres defenceman Henrik Tallinder. "Obviously, it wasnt good enough tonight," Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. "We had a great opportunity for almost a minute and a half. We just didnt get shots through." Ryan Miller had a bit of an off night as well in finishing with 18 saves. Though the first three goals he allowed all came on deflected shots, he gave up a soft one in allowing Bjugstad to put the Panthers up 4-2 with 3:48 left in the second period. Driving up the left wing, Bjugstad snapped a shot that beat Miller high on the short side. "It wasnt one of my better games," said Miller, who had allowed eight goals in his past four (2-0-2). "Ive got to get myself into a little better spot where Im in better position." Thomas, by comparison, was solid. He was particularly sharp on back-to-back chances the Sabres had early in the third period to preserve a 4-2 Panthers lead. First, Thomas got his glove out to get a piece of Staffords shot from the left circle on a 2-on-1 break 90 seconds into the frame. Some 40 seconds later, Thomas got his glove up to foil Cody Hodgson, who was in alone, to preserve the two-goal edge. Thomas had no chance on either of the three goals he allowed. Both of Staffords goals came from the slot. And Ott scored during a scramble in front and after Thomas stopped Staffords attempt to jam the puck in at the right post. Panthers rookie centre Aleksander Barkov did not return after sustaining a lower-body injury late in the first period. Without going into detail, coach Peter Horachek said Barkov was kept out as a precaution and likely could have returned. Horachek didnt expect the injury to be long term. NOTES: Sabres D Tallinder returned after missing eight games with an upper-body injury. ... Both teams entered the night having identical 9-9-7 records this season in games decided by one goal. ... Staffords opening goal came on the man advantage, ending the Panthers streak of 29 consecutive power-plays without a goal. The streak is tied for fifth on the team list, and seven short of matching the record set Feb. 16-29, 2004, according to STATS. Cheap NBA Jerseys . The NFL says Wednesday that the game between the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions at Wembley on Oct. 26 will start at 1:30 p. Stitched NBA Jerseys .com) - The Los Angeles Kings werent playing their best hockey before the league went on break during the Winter Olympics. https://www.nbachinajerseys.us/., will experience this week. A year in which the Canadian curling championship has been pushed forward a week to accommodate the Winter Olympics was deemed the perfect chance to stage the event in Montreal for the first time since 1979. Cheap Nike Basketball Jerseys .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. NBA Jerseys China . Marcus Olsson, 23, joins Blackburn on a free transfer from Swedens Halmstads. He made 139 appearances and scored 17 goals in his four years with the club. He earned his first caps for Sweden this month, featuring against Bahrain and Qatar. With the Montreal Canadiens still not knowing when the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs will begin, Michel Therrien decided to simulate a game day for his team on Monday. "Its almost a week since we last played and this is part of our preparation for the next round," Therrien told the media. The players participated in a simulated morning skate at 10:30am, their usual practice time on game day, and then headed to the Bell Centre at 5pm with their families to take part in some activities the team has planned forr them, followed by a scrimmage with members of the Hamilton Bulldogs.dddddddddddd "Its good for us to feel the speed of the game again and to get our timing back,” PK Subban said following practice. “Its tough when youve been off for a few days to keep your timing, so it will be good to get in a scrimmage.” It will be a closed door event with the public and the media not allowed to attend. The Canadiens have the day off on Tuesday and should know by Wednesday the schedule for Round 2. ' ' '