Florida: 5-4-0 (10PTS)
Buffalo: 6-3-0 (12PTS)
Season Series: 0-1-0
Game Time: 7PM EDT
Television: MSG+
Radio: 560 WQAM
The Panthers are still in the midst of a somewhat rocky start that has nonetheless left them with a winning record in the first nine games. Despite not playing at their best, the Cats split the first two games of a three-game road trip; the first against a Canadiens team having a rough start and the second against a suddenly hot Senators. The final game is tonight against the Sabres, a team that has already beaten the Panthers, in a shutout, at home. The Panthers have the chance to return the favor tonight, but will have to play better than they have the last two games. The Sabres have been better on the road (4-1-0) than they have at home (2-2-0), while the Cats are even (3-3-0) on the road. Tonight’s game is once again not on Fox Sports Florida. Coverage can be found on Center Ice or on the radio.
More from our Buffalo cohorts at Die By The Blade.
Panthers vs Sabres coverage coverage at SB Nation.
TSN preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
The Sabres shut out the Panthers 3-0 in Florida last Thursday. The loss was the Panthers’ second in a row and was followed by the trade of David Booth and Steven Reinprecht to the Vancouver Canucks for Marco Sturm and Mikael Samuelsson. The Panthers hope to return the favor tonight in Buffalo.
Last game
The Panthers lost to the Ottawa Senators 4-3 on Thursday night. The Cats had the first goal, but the Sens tied it and went ahead. The Panthers tied it two more times, including on a Kris Versteeg goal with 42 seconds left before the Senators took their final lead with 2.5 seconds left.
Lineup
There should be no lineup changes tonight unless Head Coach Kevin Dineen decides to put Keaton Ellerby in for his second appearance of the season. His first appearance was in the previous game against the Sabres, when he started in place of Ed Jovanovski. Mikael Samuelsson has now joined the team, but is not expected to play for another week or two as he is still rehabbing from off-season surgery.
Injuries
- G Scott Clemmensen (knee), 9/26, 3-8 weeks
- F Sean Bergenheim (core), 10/20, 1-2 weeks
- F Mikael Samuelsson (rehab from abdominal surgery), 10/24, week to week
Scratches
- D Keaton Ellerby (healthy)
Starting goaltenders:
With Markstrom having a loss in his third straight start, expect Kevin Dineen to go with nominal “starting goaltender” Jose Theodore tonight. Ryan Miller will be in the Sabres net.
Lines (from last game)
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Kopecky-Goc-Upshall
- Matthias-Kennedy-Bradley
- Sturm-Santorelli-Skille
Defense
- Campbell-Garrison
- Jovanovski-Gudbranson
- Kulikov-Weaver