Game #81
Buffalo Sabres (38-37-5) vs. Florida Panthers (50-24-6)
Puck Drop: 5:00 PM EST | Amerant Bank Arena | Sunrise, FL
TV: MSG-B, BSFL
Radio: WGR-550
Know Your Opponent
Florida Panthers
Record: 50-24-6 | 106 PTS
Last Game: 4-0 win vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Division Ranking: 2nd in Atlantic Division
PP Ranking: 24.3% (7th)
PK Ranking: 82.7% (6th)
What to Watch
1. Playoff Panthers
The sad reality of being part of the Buffalo Sabres’ fanbase is that we have to watch them miss the playoffs over and over – well, at least for the last 13 seasons. As fans are well aware, this is the longest drought in NHL history, an accomplishment that leaves no one proud and everyone in Western New York beyond frustrated.
As for the Panthers, though, this game will be a meaningful one as they continue to battle for the top spot in their division – trailing Boston by only one point – and with Toronto on their heels. Florida is also coming off of two big shutout wins against the Senators and Blue Jackets, respectively, and will be looking for that home-ice advantage as the playoffs inch closer.
It looks like the closest the Sabres can get to the postseason this year is by watching former teammates like Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues, and Brandon Montour continue to dominate – especially Reinhart, who now has 54 goals and 91(!) points with a +26.
2. Is There Really Anything Else to Watch at This Point?
With just two games left – tonight against the Panthers and Monday against the Lightning – it seems as though the faster this team puts us all out of our misery, the better. Many fans came into the season with high hopes only to have them crushed, while others remained pessimistic and turned out to be right. Will next season be more of the same? If Terry Pegula’s organization has a repeat of last year’s offseason, it can almost be guaranteed. Feel free to sound off in the comments below regarding what needs to take place in the upcoming offseason.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn
Jeff Skinner – Peyton Krebs – Jordan Greenway
Zemgus Girgensons – Tyson Jost – Lukas Rousek
Defense
Owen Power – Rasmus Dahlin
Kale Clague – Henri Jokiharju
Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton
Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (expected), Eric Comrie
*Bowen Byram has been day-to-day for personal reasons.
Florida Panthers
Forwards
Vladimir Tarasenko – Aleksander Barkov – Sam Reinhart
Nick Cousins – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Evan Rodrigues
Kyle Okposo – Kevin Stenlund – Steven Lorentz
Defense
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Gustav Forsling
Niko Mikkola – Brandon Montour
Uvis Balinskis – Dmitry Kulikov
Goaltenders: Sergei Bobrovsky (confirmed), Anthony Stolarz
Think the Sabres can win two in a row? Buy some merch!