Panthers Host Struggling Sabres in Saturday Showdown

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers (39-21-3) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (24-31-6) Saturday at 6 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena. This matchup features two teams at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference standings, with the Panthers looking to extend their winning streak.

The Sabres enter this game as heavy underdogs, having lost five consecutive matches and unable to secure a playoff spot for the 14th straight season. In contrast, the Panthers are poised for a Stanley Cup run, bolstered by recent acquisitions including Vitek Vanecek, who will make his debut in net for Florida.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for me and the team. We’re focused on keeping the momentum going,” Vanecek said after the morning skate.

Vanecek joined the Panthers after limited success with the San Jose Sharks, where he recorded just three wins this season. His last victory came on November 29 against the Seattle Kraken, and he has been on a seven-game losing streak. Despite this, the Panthers are currently on a five-game winning streak and are looking to capitalize on the Sabres’ misfortunes.

The Panthers recently secured a victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, winning 3-0 on March 6. They are eager to continue this streak before embarking on a six-game road trip.

In their latest outing, the Sabres fell 6-5 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Defensive struggles have plagued Buffalo, allowing 207 goals this season while only managing 189 goals themselves. Their current record puts them at 16th in the Eastern Conference, compared to the second-place Panthers.

“We’re doing our best to improve our game, but we need to find a way to close out games better,” said Sabres captain Sasha Barkov.

With each team’s recent performance in mind, Florida is the favorite, listed at -258 odds, while Buffalo sits at +209. The over/under is set at 6 goals.

As for the lineup, the Panthers will feature forwards Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart, and Mackie Samoskevich alongside Vanecek in goal. The Sabres will continue to rely on their key players including Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch.

Fans hoping to catch the action live can find tickets via the Panthers’ official website, as both teams aim for victory in a critical late-season matchup.