Sabres at Panthers
The Florida Panthers attempt to remain perfect on their six-game homestand, which continues Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. Florida improved to 4-0-0 on its string at BB&T Center by edging New Jersey 3-2 on Thursday as Aleksander Barkov scored twice to increase his team-leading total to a career-high 61 points.
Barkov has tallied in back-to-back contests and collected three goals and four assists during his four-game point streak for the Panthers, who still are in the hunt for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Buffalo is looking to escape the basement in the East as it trails Ottawa by one point after winning two straight and three of its last four. The Sabres' last two victories came against Atlantic Division powerhouses Boston and Tampa Bay, which leads in the race for the Presidents' Trophy. Buffalo posted a 2-1 overtime road victory against the Lightning on Wednesday as Jason Pominville set up the tying goal midway through the third period before converting a power-play opportunity 1:26 into the extra session.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVA, MSG Buffalo, FS Florida
ABOUT THE SABRES (20-33-11): Pominville's goal on Wednesday was his first since Jan. 9, ending his 20-game drought and putting him in double digits for each of his 13 full NHL seasons. "I was definitely getting a little frustrated, but I don't want to show my emotions," the 35-year-old right wing said during a postgame television interview. "I don't want to let my teammates know. But yeah, it was starting to get to me." Pominville, who is in the first season of his second stint with Buffalo, is one overtime tally behind Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek (six apiece) for most in franchise history.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (30-25-6): Evgenii Dadonov notched a pair of assists against the Devils for his second multi-point performance in three games. The 28-year-old Russian registered his first career hat trick in Saturday's triumph over Pittsburgh. Roberto Luongo made 29 saves on Thursday as he improved to 5-1-0 since returning from a groin injury that sidelined him for over two months.
OVERTIME
1. Sabres RW Kyle Okposo missed Wednesday's game due to the birth of his child and is not expected to be in the lineup against Florida.
2. The Panthers have won six of their last seven at home and 11 of 14 overall.
3. Buffalo is 5-0-1 in its last six against Atlantic Division rivals.