Buffalo Sabres Triumph Over Florida Panthers
In a thrilling matchup on Friday night, the Buffalo Sabres edged out the Florida Panthers with a score of 3-2, marking the Sabres’ eighth victory in their last eleven games. Goaltender Alex Lyon, who previously played for the Panthers during the 2022-23 season, played a pivotal role in the victory by making 27 saves, securing his second win against his former team this month.
Key Moments in the Game
The game saw a crucial moment when Beck Malenstyn hit a powerful slap shot from the point at 8:22 of the third period, sliding the puck through traffic and past Florida’s goaltender Daniil Tarasov, giving the Sabres a 2-1 lead. Florida attempted to challenge the goal due to a potential interference, claiming Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson had impinged on Tarasov’s glove, but the goal was upheld after review.
Prior to facing the Panthers, the Sabres also celebrated a narrow 2-1 win against the New Jersey Devils, coming back strong after the Olympic break. This recent success has positioned them in a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division with the Detroit Red Wings. Buffalo has long been in a playoff drought, missing the postseason for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years.
Panthers’ Struggles
On the other side, the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, are in a precarious position, facing a tough road ahead to reach the playoffs. With only eight wins out of the last 16 games, they currently find themselves eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with just 23 games left in their season.
Scoring Summary
The scoring wasn’t limited to Malenstyn; both Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs also found the back of the net for Buffalo. For Florida, key players Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett contributed goals, but the Panthers struggled to keep pace despite their efforts. Krebs later added an empty-net goal with only 1:17 remaining for some much-needed insurance, though Florida managed to narrow the gap again with Bennett scoring off a post with 35 seconds left. However, in an unfortunate series of events, Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin inadvertently knocked the rebound into his own net.
Injury Update
In a significant injury note, Florida’s defenseman Uvis Balinskis had to leave the game briefly after blocking a shot late in the first period. He returned for one shift but was limited to only two shifts in the second period and did not continue into the third.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Sabres will challenge the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, while the Panthers will be up against the New York Islanders on Sunday.
