The Florida Panthers (20-20-4) are on the road to take on the Buffalo Sabres (21-18-2) at KeyBank Center on Monday. Florida is coming off a 4-3 win over the Canucks on Saturday. The Panthers committed six penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Four players found the net for the Panthers.
Aaron Ekblad scored and provided an assist to lead the team in scoring. Sergei Bobrovsky had 35 saves in the win. Buffalo beat the Predators 5-3 on Saturday. Five players found the net for the Sabres. Jack Quinn scored and provided an assist to lead the team in scoring. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen saved 38 of 41 shots in the win (.926%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Panthers won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-3 victory in October, their fifth straight win against Buffalo. Matthew Tkachuk (1G 1A) and Aleksander Barkov (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Florida. Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Buffalo. Spencer Knight got the win despite allowing three goals on 27 shots (.888%).
FACING OFF
Florida is averaging 3.25 goals per game for the season, 13th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sabres team that is allowing 3.46 goals a game (24th). Meanwhile, Buffalo has found the net 3.85 times a game on average, first in the league, and the Panthers are allowing opponents to score 3.43 goals per game (23rd).
Florida averages more shots a game (35.5) than most teams in the league, ranking second, though the team’s 9.2% shooting percentage is 24th. Buffalo’s average of 32.3 attempts ranks 12th. Power play opportunities are likely to be plentiful for the Sabres, as the Panthers are averaging 4.86 penalties per game, most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 11.98 penalty minutes a game ranks second-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.83 times a game (18th) for an average of 7.98 minutes (27th). The Sabres’ 27.63% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while the Panthers rank 15th with a conversion rate of 21.79%.
While efficient on the power play, Buffalo has been less impressive at penalty killing, as the home team owns the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 72.73%. Florida’s 75.00% ranks 23rd in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS
With 53 points this season, Tkachuk is the top skater for the Panthers. He has 22 goals and 31 assists in 41 games. In the net, Knight (9-7-3) is Florida’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.06 GAA and a .906% save percentage. Bobrovsky (10-13-1) leads the Panthers in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 3.28 and a save percentage of .895%.Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 58 points (6th in the league). He has 31 goals (3rd in the league) and 27 assists in 41 games. Craig Anderson (7-6-1) has the best goals against average for Buffalo at 2.71. He has a save percentage of .921%.
HOME AND AWAY
Florida is 9-14-1 away from FLA Live Arena this season. Buffalo has dropped three straight at KeyBank Center this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Florida Panthers (-130)
Want up to a $1K risk free bet for this pick?
Claim with 
today!
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our NHL hub page for all your hockey needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
