Panthers (3-3-1 7P) vs Sabres (1-3-2 4P)
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- WHEN: 1:00 p.m. ET – LBC GameThread right here at 12:30ish
- WHERE: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
- ON THE TUBE: FOX Sports Florida, MSG-B
- ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM, 640 WMEN
- SOCIALS: #FlaPanthers, #Sabres, #FLAvsBUF, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook
- ENEMY INTEL: Die By The Blade
- SB NATION: Game Hub
- FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 1 of 4 (0-0)
- ALL-TIME vs BUF (REG): 38W-39L-4T 5OTL 2SOL 220GF 247GA
- ALL-TIME in BUF (REG): 17W-21L-3T 4OTL 0SOL 104GF 127GA
- LAST FIVE vs BUF (REG): 4-1-0 22GF 13GA
- LAST MEETING: FLA 7 at BUF 4 (Todd’s Recap) – 02/09/2016
- NEXT MEETING: 12/20/2016 at Florida
- PROJECTED STARTERS: Luongo (3-2-0 .916/2.20), Nilsson (0-1-1 .903/2.90)
- JAGR WATCH: All-time vs BUF (regular season): 87GP 46G-58A 104P +22 5GWG
- PLAYER STATS: Florida / Buffalo/
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NHL Preview:
(Dmitry) Kulikov faces the Panthers for the first time after he played the first seven seasons of his NHL career for Florida. He was chosen by the Panthers in the first round (No. 14) of the 2009 NHL Draft. “Playing for them for so many years and now being on the opposite side, it’ll definitely be weird,” Kulikov said. “I had a great time in Florida, but it’s all over now. I’m focused only on the Buffalo Sabres right now, getting a win, getting our team back on track with a win.” (more)
Yahoo! Preview:
Forward Jonathan Marchessault came out of nowhere to become one of Florida’s most surprising success stories. Through seven games, the unheralded offseason signing has 10 points (five goals, five assists). Marchessault joined the Panthers from Tampa Bay, signing a two-year deal worth only $750,000 per season. “Every year I was a surprise. I fuel off people that don’t believe,” Marchessault said to Sportsnet. “Every year, nobody thought I was going to do good. Every year, nobody thought I was going to make that team, make junior, make pro, make AHL, make NHL. It wasn’t the easiest path I had, but it was a different one. I made it here.” (more)
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Last game for the Cats: 3-2 (REG) loss in Toronto Thursday. Past five: 1-3-1 (streak: 2L)
Last game for the Sabs: 4-0 home loss Thursday vs Minnesota. Past five: 1-2-2 (streak: 4L)
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Saturday in the Atlantic Division (Standings / Panthers Playoff Chances):
- BOSTON (3-4-0 6P) at DETROIT (6-2-0 12P), 7:00
- TORONTO (2-2-3 7P) at MONTREAL (7-0-1 15P), 7:00
- TAMPA BAY (5-2-0 10P) at New Jersey (3-2-1 7P), 7:00
- Idle: OTT (8P)/
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