Preview: Last Call

Game #82

Buffalo Sabres (25-44-12) vs. Florida Panthers (42-30-8)

Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. EST | BB&T Center | Sunrise, FL

Season Series: 3-0 Panthers

11/10: Panthers 4, Sabres 1 (recap)

2/1: Panthers 4, Sabres 2 (recap)

3/2: Panthers 4, Sabres 1 (recap)

TV: MSG

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Panthers blog: Litter Box Cats

What to Watch

1. The Finale

Well, we made it. Here we are, the last game of what has been one of the most difficult in recent history for the Sabres. After a hard fought high scoring game with the Lightning we’ll see what type of effort we see from the Sabres tonight as they can end any hopes the Panthers have at the playoffs with a win.

2. Wilcox or Ullmark?

With Chad Johnson playing last night and having a rough night, it would make sense for Adam Wilcox or Linus Ullmark to start tonight. If Wilcox starts it’ll be his first career NHL game.

Know Your Opponent

1. Panthers fighting for their playoff lives.

The final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs is down to the Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers. Florida needs to win tonight and tomorrow to have a chance to get the last wild card spot as they trail the Flyers by four points. If Philadelphia picks up a point against the Rangers today the Panthers are eliminated. The Flyers and Rangers play at 3 PM, so we’ll know if the game has any meaning by puck drop.

Projected Lineup (unconfirmed)

20 Scott Wilson – 15 Jack Eichel – 21 Kyle Okposo

71 Evan Rodrigues – 37 Casey Mittelstadt – 29 Jason Pominville

92 Alex Nylander – 90 Ryan O’Reilly – 23 Sam Reinhart

17 Jordan Nolan – 22 Johan Larsson – 13 Nick Baptiste

6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen

45 Brendan Guhle - 8 Casey Nelson

41 Justin Falk - 82 Nathan Beaulieu

Starting Goaltender: 35 Linus Ullmark or 32 Adam Wilcox