SUNRISE, Fla., March 17 (UPI) -- Dmitry Kulikov scored the game-winner in the seventh shootout round Saturday and the Florida Panthers skated to a fourth straight win, 3-2 over Buffalo.
Kulikov came down the middle, faked a backhand move and flipped it past the glove of Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to give Florida the advantage.
Jose Theodore then sealed the win with a pad save on Drew Stafford and the Panthers improved their Southeast Division lead over the Washington Capitals to five points.
Mikael Samuelsson and John Madden scored in regulation and Theodore ended with 24 saves for Florida.
Derek Roy and Tyler Ennis tallied for Buffalo, which used the shootout-loss point to move within two of the Capitals for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Miller turned aside 15 shots for the Sabres.
