Game 5
Buffalo Sabres (3-0-1) vs. Florida Panthers (1-2-0)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Panthers blog: Litter Box Cats
Know Your Opponent
Florida Panthers
Record: (1-2-1) | 2 points
Last 10: 1-2-0
Division Ranking: 7th in Atlantic Division
Conference Ranking: 12th in Eastern Conference
PP: 9th (30.8%)
PK: 19th (71.4%)
What to Watch
1. $10 million man
The big offseason move for the Florida Panthers was the addition of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to seven-year, $70 million contract. So far, things have not gone well. In three starts, the 31-year-old goaltender has a .859 save percentage. According to Evolving Hockey, he has the lowest goals saved above expected rating in the league (-5.19).
2. Can’t stop, won’t stop
The line of Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons, and Kyle Okposo has been the Sabres best trio this season. They’ve been a dominant line in each game this season. They continue to get the majority of the defensive zone starts on the team, but have controlled possession throughout the first four games.
3. Paging, Casey Mittelstadt
Outside of the first game of the season, Mittelstadt has done much for the Sabres. That line in general has been the weakest throughout the season. Not only has Mittelstadt had some struggles, but Jimmy Vesey has been less than impressive as well. That line could use a strong game tonight.
Game Prediction
Projected Lineup
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Victor Olofsson – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner – Marcus Johansson – Vladimir Sobotka
Zemgus Girgensons – Johan Larsson – Kyle Okposo
Jimmy Vesey – Casey Mittelstadt – Evan Rodrigues
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin – Colin Miller
Jake McCabe – Rasmus Ristolainen
Marco Scandella – Henri Jokiharju
Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark
Florida Panthers
Forwards
Jonathan Huberdeau – Aleksander Barkov – Mike Hoffman
Frank Vatrano – Vincent Trocheck – Brett Connolly
Jayce Hawryluk – Denis Malgin – Evgenii Dadonov
Dryden Hunt – Noel Acciari – Colton Sceviour
Defense
Mackenzie Weegar – Aaron Ekblad
Michael Matheson – Anton Stralman
Keith Yandle – Josh Brown
Starting Goaltender: Sergei Bobrovsky