The Florida Panthers head to upstate New York on Thursday to play the Buffalo Sabres. Florida is coming off a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings Monday in a shootout. The Panthers’ Jonathan Huberdeau scored the shootout’s only goal giving the Panthers the win. During regulation, Jared McCann, Henrik Borgstrom and Jayce Hawryluk each scored a goal for Florida.
Buffalo lost its third straight and fifth in its last six falling to the New York Islanders 3-1 on Monday. The Sabres lone goal was scored in the third period by Kyle Okposo on the power play. The Sabres are now 21-13-6 with 48 points and tied for third in the Atlantic division.
Mike Hoffman leads the Panthers in goals scored with 18. Jonathan Huberdeau is the assists leader with 34 and points leader with 44. Roberto Luongo is 8-7-1 with a 3.19 goals against average and .897 save percentage. Florida is 10th in goals per game at 3.21 and 28th in goals against at 3.45.
Jeff Skinner leads Buffalo in goals scored with 26. Jack Eichel is the leader in assists with 34 and points with 49. Carter Hutton in net is 13-12-2 with a goal’s against average of 2.63 and save percentage of .917. On the season, Buffalo is 22nd in goals scored per game at 2.80 and 11th in goals against at 2.85.