Sabres carry rare superior record into rubber game with Panthers

The Buffalo Sabres, who are in the midst of a 14-year-playoff drought that is the longest in NHL history, are actually in prime postseason position.

With 28 games left in the regular season, the Sabres' start the week as one of the Eastern Conference's two wild-card teams.

Buffalo has 67 points, and that's six ahead of the top teams currently out of playoff position - Columbus and Washington. The Sabres are eight points ahead of the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who will host Buffalo on Monday night in Sunrise.

So, how have the Sabres improved?

For starters, they are 24-2-0 when leading after two periods. Goalie Alex Lyon is a big part of that as he leads the Sabres in wins (13-7-3), save%age (.913), goals-against average (2.64) and shutouts (two).

Of his 23 starts, 17 have been quality starts and only three have been judged as bad starts, as per Hockey Reference.

Lyon, a 33-year-old Minnesota native and former Yale standout, played for the Panthers in 2022-2023.

Prior to losing 4-2 to Montreal on Saturday, Lyon had won a franchise-record 10 straight starts, including two in overtime and one in a shootout. He allowed two goals or less seven times in that streak.

"I'm happy for the team," Lyon said of his accomplishments. "My goal is to help win games and fight for that ultimate goal."

Head Coach Lindy Ruff, Buffalo's all-time wins leader, is in the last year of his contract. Besides Lyon, he is riding standouts such as Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch at forward and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson.

Thompson leads Buffalo in goals (28) and points (56), and his slap shot has been clocked as the fastest in the NHL. Tuch, a top two-way forward, is second in goals (22) and points (47). Dahlin, a three-time All-Star at age 25, is tops in assists (33), and Samuelsson is No. 1 in plus/minus (plus-28).

Thompson, who scored 44 goals last season, will surely be at the top of the scouting report for the Panthers, who have lost three straight games -- their worst skid since late November/early December.

On Saturday, the Panthers lost 2-1 to the visiting Winnipeg Jets. Florida led 1-0 before allowing a pair of third-period goals.

"We just have to keep the faith," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after Florida's third straight one-goal loss. "Keep your belief and keep your fight -- even when it's going against you."

Injuries have been a big part of Florida's story. The Panthers started the season without their top two offensive stars -- Alexander Barkov (still out due to a knee injury) and Matthew Tkachuk, who didn't make his debut until Jan. 19.

in Saturday's loss, the Panthers were also without Brad Marchand, who is second on the team in goals (25) and points (50). He has a lower-body injury.

In addition, Anton Lundell has missed two straight games due to an upper-body injury. He is fifth on the team in goals (15) and points (36).

On defense, the Panthers are without Seth Jones and Dmitry Kulikov, both with upper-body injuries. Jones leads Panthers defensemen with 24 points.

In goal, 37-year old Sergei Bobrovsky leads Florida in wins (20-16-1). He has an .875 save percentage and a 3.05 GAA that is higher than his mark last season (2.44) and his career average (2.60).

Backup Daniil Tarasov is 8-7-2 with a .904 save percentage and a 2.67 GAA.

The teams have split two previous games this season, each winning on home ice.