While the Buffalo Sabres look to continue their impressive surge, the Florida Panthers are just trying to string together some wins.
With one loss over the last month, the Sabres aim for a seventh consecutive home victory Monday night against the Panthers.
For the first time in franchise history, Buffalo has won 13 of 14 games. During their stellar stretch that began Dec. 9, the Sabres have won all five games at home — where they are 14-5-2 for the season as they feed off the energy of excited, packed houses.
“We were told here that, when you’re winning, it’s the best place to play, and you’re starting to feel that,” forward Josh Doan said of Buffalo’s home arena, which he has come to enjoy in his first season with the Sabres.
Doan owns four goals with two assists during a five-game point streak.
Doan recorded an assist Saturday while Jack Quinn scored twice and Tage Thompson added a goal and an assist during Buffalo’s 5-3 home win over the Anaheim Ducks. The Sabres, who overcame a late Ducks surge, have scored five goals in each of their last three games.
“I think we’re still trying to improve every day and keep getting better, keep kind of pushing the limit of what we can get to,” said Quinn, who snapped a nine-game goal drought.
Thompson, the team leader with 41 points and 22 goals, has four goals with three assists in the last five games. Doan scored two goals during Buffalo’s 3-0 home victory over Florida on Oct. 18.
While the Sabres entered Sunday owning the Eastern Conference’s top wild-card spot, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers are 4-5-1 since winning seven of eight and are outside of playoff position in the East.
Florida, however, is looking to win back-to-back contests for the first time since a four-game run from Dec. 13-19. Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe each posted a goal with an assist during the Panthers’ 3-2 win Saturday at Ottawa.
“I thought we played fast, a strong game in all zones,” said Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 17 saves against the Senators. “We were smart defensively and offensively.
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“Big win, big points for us, and we’re excited to move on.”
Verhaeghe has three points in the last three games, but the Panthers could be without Brad Marchand, who leads the team with 46 points, for a third consecutive contest due to an undisclosed injury.
Bobrovsky earned his first victory in four starts and allowed fewer than three goals for the first time in his last six. He stopped 28 of 31 shots during the 3-0 loss Oct. 18 at Buffalo.
Backup Daniil Tarasov stopped 27 of 28 shots during Florida’s 2-1 home win over Colorado in his most recent start on Jan. 4.
Buffalo’s Alex Lyon (2.82 goals-against average), who was stout in stopping all 32 shots he faced versus Florida in October, is still dealing with a lower-body injury. Teammate Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 31 saves Saturday for his fifth win in his last six starts.
Current Sabres backup Colten Ellis made 30 saves during a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday.
