Sabres Host Panthers in Monday Afternoon NHL Matchup

The Buffalo Sabres host the Florida Panthers in a Monday afternoon NHL matchup, with both teams entering the game after recent lineup changes and injury updates. The teams meet in Buffalo as the Sabres look to respond to early-season results and the Panthers adjust their combinations.

According to NHL.com, Florida projected a lineup without Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich because of injuries. The Panthers also listed Uvis Balinskis as scratched.

NHL.com reported that coach Paul Maurice kept the Tkachuk brothers together with Sam Bennett during Sunday practice after using that combination in the third period of a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

The Sabres entered the matchup with several roster questions, according to NHL.com. Buffalo listed Alex Lyon, Conor Timmins and Jason Zucker as injured, while Justin Danforth, Tyson Kozak and Matt Grzelcyk were projected as scratches.

NHL.com also reported that Konsta Helenius and Jiri Kulich practiced with Norris and could return after both were scratched in Buffalo's previous game, a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth.

Performance data cited by Sports Illustrated showed Buffalo's underlying team numbers were stronger than its recent results. The Sabres ranked fourth in the NHL in expected goal differential per 60 minutes at plus-0.97 before the game.

Sports Illustrated also reported that Buffalo generated 12.62 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes while allowing 9.27. Florida ranked near the middle of the league in those statistical categories.

The matchup followed a holiday Monday schedule featuring afternoon hockey, with the Panthers and Sabres set to play at 1 p.m. ET, according to Sports Illustrated. The outlet also noted that Florida entered the game after a 4-1 loss to Minnesota, while Buffalo continued to seek improvement after its early-season performances.