The Buffalo Sabres broke their season-opening three-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night. In a game defined by a burst of offense and a key go-ahead goal, the Sabres celebrated their first win under head coach Lindy Ruff in his second stint with the team. The victory marks Ruff’s first with Buffalo in 4,257 days, the last coming on February 15, 2013, against the Boston Bruins.
Buffalo wasted little time in establishing momentum. Jordan Greenway opened the scoring, and just 41 seconds later, Tage Thompson netted the go-ahead goal. Thompson’s score came on a shot that beat Panthers goalie Spencer Knight through the legs from 25 feet, giving the Sabres a 2-0 advantage early in the game.
Thompson’s goal proved pivotal, setting the tone for a Buffalo squad eager to rebound from three losses. Henri Jokiharju and Mattias Samuelsson added to the lead, while Alex Tuch sealed the game with an empty-netter late in the third period. The Sabres, who struggled offensively in their first three outings with just three goals combined, broke through with a five-goal performance on home ice.
Devon Levi, Buffalo’s starting goalie, made a crucial save 32 seconds into the second period, stopping Sam Reinhart’s shot off a 4-on-2 break that could have shifted momentum in Florida’s favor. Jokiharju capitalized soon after, scoring just 66 seconds later to put Buffalo up 3-1, a lead they would not relinquish.
For the Sabres, this win was particularly significant given their struggles against Florida in recent matchups. They had gone 2-9-1 in their last 12 meetings with the Panthers, but this game marked a turning point as they avoided the franchise’s first 0-4 start in history.
The Panthers, coming off a season-opening win over the Boston Bruins, have now dropped two straight games. Sam Bennett and Nate Schmidt were the lone goal-scorers for Florida, but their efforts were not enough to overcome a Sabres team hungry for a win. The Panthers struggled offensively, missing key players Aleksander Barkov (lower body injury) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness), and their absence was felt throughout the game.
Spencer Knight made his first start in net since February 14, 2023, after a stint in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to manage obsessive-compulsive disorder. Despite making 22 saves, he allowed a few critical goals, including Thompson’s, which squeezed through from a distance.
Takeaways from the game, the Sabres’ win not only snapped their early-season slump but also provided a boost for the team, showing resilience against a Florida squad that has been a challenge in recent seasons.
Struggles on Special Teams continue. Despite the win, Buffalo’s power play remained ineffective, going 0 for 3 and extending their season drought to 0 for 14 with the man advantage.
Key moment was, Levi’s save on Reinhart in the second period was a defining moment, as it preserved the Sabres’ lead and allowed them to maintain their offensive rhythm.
Panthers missing key players from Florida’s lineup lacked firepower without Barkov and Tkachuk, making it difficult to sustain pressure against a determined Sabres squad. The absence of their captain and a key offensive presence showed in their inability to convert key opportunities.
With this win, the Sabres will look to build momentum as they navigate the early stages of the season under Ruff’s guidance. Meanwhile, the Panthers will aim to rebound from their back-to-back losses and hope for the return of their missing stars. As both teams continue to adjust and find their rhythm, the coming games will be crucial in shaping their paths for the rest of the season.
