The Sabres look to create a winning streak tonight when they welcome the Florida Panthers to First Niagara Center for the two teams’ first regular season contest on the year.
Both teams enter tonight’s game after plenty of rest; it’s the Sabres’ first game since Tuesday night, a 4-3 shootout win in Carolina, and the Panthers’ first since Monday, a 1-0 shutout loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Buffalo will take to the ice feeling rejuvenated not just for the rest, but also for securing their first win this regular season after three disappointing outings to open the 2014-2015 season. The shootout win on the road against the Hurricanes saw the Sabres outshoot their opponents, open the scoring, and tally three goals on the night—all firsts for the Sabres on this young, rebuilding season.
A few players were visibly impassioned throughout the game, including Jhonas Enroth, who rebounded from six-goal debacle against the Chicago Blackhawks to stop seven of eight Hurricanes players in the shootout, and Marcus Foligno, who returned from a one-game injury layoff to net two of the Sabres’ three goals.
Foligno joined teammates Zemgus Girgensons, Tyler Ennis , and Torrey Mitchell as the only Sabres to find the back of the net after the first four regular season games.
The rest of the roster has an opportunity to end their scoring droughts as they face a Florida Panthers club who are in just as much of a rebuilding phase as the Sabres are. The Panthers are currently winless on the season with just a single point in the standings from an overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Like Buffalo, Florida has struggled offensively, putting up just three goals in their first three contests. After being shut out in their last game and spending the week idle, the Sabres can expect the Panthers to work vigorously for a renewed offense.
Tonight’s game will be the first time that the 2014 number one draft pick, Aaron Ekblad, visits Buffalo. Ekblad has been paired with former Sabre Brian Campbell to start the season, earning an assist and a -1 through Florida’s first three contests.
Puck drop for tonight’s matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. Fans can watch the action on MSG, or listen in with WGR 550.