Sabres Surge Past Panthers With Statement Win, Take Over Wild Card Lead
SUNRISE, Fla. - Don’t look now, but the Buffalo Sabres are heating up at just the right time.
Jason Zucker delivered the knockout blow Monday night, breaking a 3-3 tie with a power-play goal midway through the third period, and the Sabres rolled to a 5-3 win over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. That’s six wins in their last seven games for Buffalo, who now sit atop the Eastern Conference wild-card standings - a full 10 points ahead of the slumping Panthers.
For Florida, the loss marks their fourth straight, and with just 27 games left, they now trail Boston by nine points for the final playoff spot. The urgency is real, and the runway is shrinking.
But let’s focus on what Buffalo did right - and there was plenty.
Balanced Attack, Clutch Moments
Peyton Krebs had himself a night, registering a goal and two assists. Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, and Josh Doan also found the back of the net for the Sabres, while Rasmus Dahlin chipped in with two assists. Alex Lyon, who’s been rock-solid of late, turned away 38 shots - his 11th win in his last 12 starts.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a comeback, a test of resilience, and a statement all rolled into one. The Sabres fell behind 2-0 early in the first, but never blinked.
Florida struck fast, with Sandis Vilmanis scoring just 37 seconds in and Evan Rodrigues doubling the lead less than six minutes later. The Panthers looked sharp out of the gate, but that momentum didn’t last.
Thompson got Buffalo on the board with a long wrist shot, then Krebs tied it up off the rush. Just like that, the Sabres had weathered the early storm.
Turning Point: Bobrovsky’s Gamble Backfires
One of the game’s pivotal moments came early in the second. With the score tied 2-2, Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky came way out - about 15 feet - to play the puck.
But Ryan McLeod beat him to it and quickly fed Benson in the slot for an easy finish. Buffalo had its first lead, and the momentum had officially shifted.
Florida did manage to tie it up again late in the second on a power-play goal from Uvis Balinskis, but Zucker’s go-ahead goal on the man advantage at 5:31 of the third - off a slick, no-look feed from Doan - put Buffalo back in front for good.
Doan wasn’t done, either. He sealed the win with a goal of his own with just over two minutes left, set up by Krebs, who capped off his three-point night in style.
Panthers Shorthanded and Searching for Answers
Florida was already battling the injury bug coming into this one, missing key forwards including captain Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand. Things got worse when Sam Bennett exited after the first period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return.
For a team that’s relied on depth and experience during its recent Cup runs, this latest stretch has been uncharacteristically shaky. The Panthers have now dropped four in a row, and with the playoff race tightening, they’re going to need to find answers - and fast.
What’s Next
The Sabres head to Tampa Bay for a tough back-to-back on Tuesday night, while the Panthers will try to regroup at home against Boston on Wednesday. For Buffalo, the mission is clear: keep the momentum rolling. For Florida, it’s about survival mode - and rediscovering the form that made them champions.