Sabres at Panthers
The Florida Panthers return home to face the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday after taking a step back in their climb toward the top of the Atlantic Division. Florida, which won five of six to move within four points of first-place Boston, scored twice in a span of 18 seconds in the first period to take a two-goal lead at Carolina on Saturday but yielded the final four goals - moments before the Bruins rallied for an overtime victory.
Buffalo started 9-2-1 but has quickly slid back to the pack by going 1-7-2 after kicking off a three-game road trip with a 3-2 loss to Boston on Thursday. The Sabres scored 20 goals in the last 10 games with leading scorer Jack Eichel (13) accounting for seven, including four in a 4-2 victory over Ottawa on Nov. 16. "I think we started well,” Eichel told reporters. “Obviously we’ve faced some adversity with a rough patch in this last little bit here but we just have to dig our way out of it.” Buffalo prevailed 3-2 in a shootout Oct. 11 in the first of four meetings this season behind 41 saves by Linus Ullmark.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, TVA, MSG Buffalo, FS Florida
ABOUT THE SABRES (10-9-3): Eichel also has 13 assists while Sam Reinhart (17 points) and Jeff Skinner (13) have scored eight goals apiece but only one total in the last five games. Calder Trophy candidate Victor Olofsson (seven goals, 16 points) has recorded four assists in his last five contests. Defenseman Zach Bogosian appears ready to make his season debut Sunday after missing the first 22 games with a hip injury.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (12-6-5): Defenseman Aaron Ekblad scored Saturday, giving him three goals in two games for the first time in his career. Brian Boyle scored his fourth goal in 15 games since signing a one-year contract Oct. 20. Sam Montembeault (3-1-1, 2.96 goals-against average, .903 save percentage) will likely be in goal after Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots Saturday.
OVERTIME
1. Buffalo has allowed a power-play goal in seven straight games, killing 17-of-27 penalties during that span while its power-play unit went 1-for-4 on Thursday after going 0-for-21 in its previous eight games.
2. Florida is 0-for-7 on the power play over its last three games after scoring one in nine straight contests (11-for-30).
3. Sabres F Marcus Johansson (upper body) remains questionable after missing the last five games.