Sunrise, FL (My Sportsbook) - Ales Kotalik had the game-winner in the shootout, as the Buffalo Sabres edged the Florida Panthers, 3-2, at BankAtlantic Center.

Tim Connolly and Thomas Vanek also lit the lamp for the Sabres, who have won three straight games and seven of nine. Toni Lydman and Jason Pominville notched assists in the win. Ryan Miller stopped 27-of-29 shots.

David Booth had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who have dropped two of three but still have yet to lose in regulation in 2009 and have registered a point in eight consecutive contests (5-0-3). Nathan Horton also scored for Florida in defeat.

Tomas Vokoun made 21 saves in the loss.

Horton went first in the shootout, but had his wrister stopped by Miller. Kotalik was next and he skated in, faked like he was shooting right and went left to lift the puck over Vokoun's glove for a goal.

Booth was next and he had his backhander halted by Miller. Derek Roy then wristed a shot past Vokoun and into the back of the cage to give Buffalo the win.

At the 16:29 mark of the first period Lydman was called for tripping Booth on a breakaway, which led to a penalty shot.

Booth skated in, faked to his right, pulled the puck back and wristed a shot over Miller's leg for a 1-0 Panthers lead.

Buffalo tied it up with 1:57 left in the second period. With the puck loose near the right circle in Florida's zone, Gregory Campbell attempted to slide the disc to Vokoun in net. However, Connolly slapped the defender's stick to distort the destination, which ended up in the back of the net for a 1-1 game.

The Sabres took a 2-1 lead at the 4:22 mark of the third stanza. Lydman took a slap shot from the top left corner of the zone that was stopped by Vokoun. The rebound, though, slid out front of the crease and Vanek tipped it in for the power-play goal.

Buffalo tied it up with just 3:24 left in regulation as Richard Zednik gained control of the puck behind the Panthers' net and slid a pass out front. Horton, stationed in front of the goal, wristed it into the twine for a 2-2 score.

Florida had three shots in overtime, while Buffalo had a pair of scoring chances turned aside by Vokoun.

Game Notes

Jay Bouwmeester had lit the lamp in four straight games had a point in six straight contests coming in (4 goals, 3 assists), but he saw that streak ended...The Panthers fell to 13-5-5 over their last 23 games...Vokoun is 4-3-1 with a tie in his career versus Buffalo...Florida is 10-5-5 as the home team this season and will host Dallas on Wednesday before the All-Star break. The Panthers will then welcome Philadelphia and Montreal to town the following week...The Sabres began a six-game road trip on Monday. The first two contests will take place in Florida, as they visit the Lightning on Wednesday. Following the break, Buffalo, which is 10-8-4 on the road this season, heads out west to play Edmonton, Calgary, Phoenix and Anaheim...Vanek has 28 goals, and saw his season-high five straight games without a goal streak halted...Miller is 6-4-0 lifetime versus Florida...Florida posted a 2-1 win when the teams met for the first time this season on December 4, but Buffalo has won six of the last eight matchups overall. However, the Sabres came in having lost four of their last seven in Sunrise.