The Florida Panthers (1-1) are back in the US of A to face the winless Buffalo Sabres (0-3) tonight at KeyBank Center in the first of four meetings between the Atlantic Division denizens.
Gustav Forsling was the only Panther to solve Linus Ullmark on Thursday night as the Ottawa Senators handed the Cats their first loss of the season by a 3-1 count at Canadian Tire Center. Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk drew the assists on the goal and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of 29 shots. Aleksander Barkov was injured the end of the game, crashing into the boards trying to prevent Tim Stützle empty-net goal.
After dropping a pair of games to the New Jersey Devils in Prague, the Sabres returned to North America and were beaten 3-1 on home ice by the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. Alex Tuch’s shorthanded goal was the only Buffalo tally in the loss.
On Friday, the Panthers recalled Patrick Giles to take Barkov’s spot on the roster. Tomas Nosek was placed on to LTIR to allow the move.
Matthew Tkachuk is sick so the Cats will roll with seven defensemen tonight.
- WHEN: 7:00 p.m. ET
- WHERE: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
- ON THE TUBE: Scripps, MSG-B
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM (D/B), 1230 The Gambler (PB), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)
- SOCIALS: #TimeToHunt, #SabreHood, #FLAvBUF, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Die By The Blade
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 1 of 4
- LAST MEETING: @FLA 3, BUF 2 (OT) (Recap) – 4/13/2024
- NEXT MEETING: October 28, 2024
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Florida: Knight / Buffalo: Levi (0-1-0 .919 / 3.17 0SO)
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Buffalo
Saturday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances)
- BOSTON 2, Los Angeles 1 (OT)
- Pittsburgh (1-1-0 2P) at TORONTO (1-1-0 2P) 7 p.m.
- OTTAWA (1-0-0 2P) at MONTREAL (1-1-0 2P) 7 p.m.
- Nashville (0-1-0 0P) at DETROIT (0-1-0 0P) 7 p.m.
- Carolina (0-1-0 0P) at TAMPA BAY (1-0-0 2P) 7 p.m.