Panthers Let Another One Slip as Sabres Rally to Hand Florida Fourth Straight Loss
The Florida Panthers are skating on thin ice right now-and Monday night didn’t do anything to ease the tension.
Looking to snap a three-game skid and claw back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the Panthers came out flying in front of their home crowd in Sunrise. But despite a fast start and an early two-goal cushion, Florida couldn’t hold off the surging Buffalo Sabres, who stormed back for a 5-3 win-handing the Panthers their fourth straight loss and turning up the heat on a team that’s suddenly running out of margin for error.
A Rookie Moment, A Hot Start
It took less than a minute for the Panthers to get on the board, and it came from a name most fans are still learning to pronounce. Rookie Sandis Vilmanis, skating alongside Cole Schwindt and A.J.
Greer, made the most of his opportunity. After a point shot from Niko Mikkola ricocheted off Greer, Vilmanis pounced on the rebound and snapped a wrister past Alex Lyon just 37 seconds in.
That’s the kind of early energy Florida has been searching for-and the kind of contribution from depth players that could help turn things around.
The Panthers didn’t stop there. Before the first TV timeout, Sam Reinhart forced a turnover deep in the Sabres’ zone, and Evan Rodrigues’ cross-crease pass attempt took a lucky bounce off a Buffalo skate and slid past Lyon. Just like that, it was 2-0 Florida, and the building was buzzing.
But momentum is a fragile thing in the NHL-and this game was a case study in how quickly it can flip.
Buffalo Strikes Back
The Sabres didn’t wait long to answer. Tage Thompson cut the lead in half with a quick strike, and just minutes later, Peyton Krebs buried the equalizer. Suddenly, the Panthers' strong start was erased, and the game was tied heading into the first intermission.
The second period brought more trouble for Florida. After killing off a delay of game penalty, Buffalo turned a broken play into a go-ahead goal.
Ryan McLeod, fresh out of the penalty box, beat Sergei Bobrovsky to a loose puck in the Panthers’ zone and fed Zach Benson, who found the back of the net with Bobrovsky caught out of position. The Sabres had their first lead of the night, and the Panthers were left chasing.
To their credit, Florida pushed back. A power play opportunity midway through the second gave the Panthers a much-needed spark.
Reinhart, always a steady hand on the man advantage, found Uvis Balinskis sneaking in from the point. Balinskis didn’t hesitate-his one-time snap shot beat Lyon glove-side and knotted the game at 3-3 heading into the final frame.
Third Period Troubles Continue
But the third period has been a problem for Florida during this recent slide, and Monday was no different.
An early hooking call on Schwindt-one that had the Panthers’ bench visibly frustrated-put Buffalo back on the power play. This time, they cashed in. The Sabres regained the lead five minutes into the period, and Florida couldn’t find a response.
The Panthers had their chances, but Buffalo’s penalty kill came up big when it mattered most. And with just over two minutes to go, the Sabres sealed it. A 2-on-1 rush ended with the puck in the back of Florida’s net, and the comeback was complete.
What’s Next
This one stings for Florida-not just because it’s four in a row, but because of how it unfolded. A strong start, a lead, and then a slow unraveling that’s become all too familiar. With the playoff race tightening and teams around them picking up points, the Panthers don’t have time to dwell.
Next up? The Boston Bruins. And if there’s ever a time to snap out of a funk, it’s when one of the East’s perennial powerhouses is coming to town.
The Panthers have the talent. They’ve shown flashes. But with each missed opportunity, the pressure mounts-and the path to the postseason gets a little steeper.