Game 27
Buffalo Sabres (17-7-2) vs Florida Panthers (9-10-4)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | BB&T Center | Sunrise, FL
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Panthers Blog: Litter Box Cats
Know Your Opponent
Florida Panthers
Record: (9-10-4) | 22 PTS
Last 10: 4-5-1
Division Ranking: 8th in the Atlantic Division
Conference Ranking: 15th in the Eastern Conference
PP: 7th (25.8%)
PK: T-23rd (76.4%)
What to Watch
1. Now What?
The Buffalo Sabres lost last night for the first time in 25 days.
While there is time for reflection, the quick turnaround should allow the Sabres to clear their minds and get right back at it.
The worst thing you want to see is a lackadaisical effort from the team this evening.
Despite tired legs, Florida has struggled to start out their season.
This game should be a good one for Buffalo to get another streak started.
2. Time for Launch?
After the injury to Jake McCabe on Thursday night, is it time for Lawrence Pilut to make his NHL debut?
Pilut has been up for a few days on an as-needed basis but has yet to be needed.
Marco Scandella has been in-and-out of the lineup and with the unknown nature of McCabe’s injury, followed up with a back-to-back scenario – the dam could finally break.
3. Physical Play
Thursday night’s game against Tampa Bay featured some very physical play.
We know the Sabres can hit but more often than not, they use their finesse to allow themselves to glide around the ice.
Buffalo did not fall too hard into the physicality trap but with the heavy play last night, the Sabres might be at a little bit of a disadvantage against a Florida team that has not played since Wednesday.
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Jeff Skinner – Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart
Tage Thompson – Casey Mittelstadt – Kyle Okposo
Evan Rodrigues – Vladimir Sobotka – Jason Pominville
Remi Elie – Johan Larsson – Zemgus Girgensons
Defense
Jake McCabe – Rasmus Ristolainen
Zach Bogosian- Rasmus Dahlin
Nathan Beaulieu – Casey Nelson
Starting Goaltender: Linus Ullmark (projected)
Florida Panthers
Forwards
Evgenii Dadonov — Aleksander Barkov — Mike Hoffman
Jonathan Huberdeau — Jared McCann — Frank Vatrano
Dryden Hunt — Nick Bjugstad — Troy Brouwer
Micheal Haley — Juho Lammikko — Colton Sceviour
Defense
Mike Matheson — Aaron Ekblad
Keith Yandle — Mark Pysyk
Bogdan Kiselevich — MacKenzie Weegar
Starting Goaltender: James Reimer (projected)