Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - A little more than two weeks ago, the Buffalo Sabres beat the Florida Panthers, 5-2, on Oct. 12, securing the team's first win of the 2024-25 season.
That win started the Sabres' current streak of 4-1-1 over their last six games, where they’ve accounted for 27 goals.
The Panthers will be a different team this time around.
They will have their captain, Aleksander Barkov, back in the lineup. He’s missed eight games after crashing into the back wall during a game against the Ottawa Senators.
Matthew Tkachuk is also back in the lineup for this game after missing five games due to illness, including the game on Oct. 12.
Also, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky got the game off against Buffalo, allowing Spencer Knight to get the start.
Related
The Sabres and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have won three-straight games. All last season, Buffalo never won four games in-a-row.
In those three games, Luukkonen has a 2.33 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Overall, he’s 3-2-1 this season with a 3.01 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage.
Tage Thompson has six goals in six games since Oct. 12, which is third in the NHL. His seven goals overall is fifth in the league. Thompson's 11 points ranks him 16th in the NHL.
The Atlantic Division is a crazy mess. Five teams, including Buffalo, are 4-4-1, while the Ottawa Senators are 4-4-0. The Panthers are in first place at 6-3-1 for 13 points, while the Tampa Bay Lightning are second at 5-3-0 for 10 points.
After scoring just three total goals in their first three games, Buffalo is now 13th overall in the league, averaging 3.33 goals per-game.
Buffalo has gone three-straight games not giving up a power play goal. The Sabres have killed off eight-straight penalties, and have risen to 16th overall at 77.8%.
Nic Aube-Kubel is returning Monday after missing eight games. He injured himself on opening day against the New Jersey Devils, trying to deliver a check.
Buffalo will have to open up a roster spot, which landed winger Zach Benson on Injured Reserve.
Aube-Kubel was skating on the left wing with Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn during Sunday's practice. That means Jiri Kulich is the healthy scratch.
I can’t imagine Kulich endeared himself to head coach Lindy Ruff on Saturday by extending his shifts. Kulich had shifts of 1:20, 1:07 and 1:03, and Ruff wants shifts of 45 seconds or shorter.
The rookie had seven shifts of 45 seconds or longer. He also wasn’t real strong on the goal by Detroit Red Wings winger Alex DeBrincat.
Owen Power was sick on Saturday, and only played one shift in the third period and 10:37 overall. Ruff says he expects the defenseman to be available for Monday's game.
Florida is 5-1-1 in its last seven games.
Sam Bennett has four goals and five points in his last four games.
Carter Verhaeghe has points in six-straight games, scoring a goal and five assists.
Bobrovsky is 4-2-1 this season with a 3.11 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage.
Tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" for pregame coverage on WGR, starting at 6 p.m. ET when you’ll hear from Ruff, Aube-Kubel and Connor Clifton.