Florida back in Buffalo aiming for fifth straight road win

David Dwork

Oct 28, 2024, 11:00

David Dwork

Oct 28, 2024, 11:00

Panthers have won four straight road games since an embarrassing loss at KeyBank Center earlier this month

The Florida Panthers wrap up their three-game journey through New York on Monday night when they face the Buffalo Sabres.

Florida is looking for the Empire State sweep after picking up victories over the New York Rangers and New York Islanders on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

With points in six of their past seven (5-1-1) despite playing much of the season with a shorthanded roster, the Cats find themselves sitting atop the Atlantic Division with 13 points.

The Cats have also reeled off four consecutive victories away from South Florida, with their last road loss coming, you guessed it, in Buffalo.

Currently sitting in a tie for third place of the Atlantic Division are the Sabres.

It appears they have recovered from their 0-3-0 start and enter Monday’s game riding a three-game winning streak and holding a 4-4-1 mark on the season.

Buffalo’s first win of the season came at the expense of the Panthers, a game that Florida looked completely out of sorts, playing without both Sasha Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk.

Barkov suffered a lower-body injury during Florida’s loss in Ottawa on Oct. 10 and has been nursing the ailment since. He began skating a couple weeks ago and Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said that Barkov would likely be back for Florida’s pair of games in Finland on Nov. 1 and 2, if not sooner.

Well, those games are coming up on Friday and Saturday of this week, and Barkov has been trending toward a return.

It’s likely an answer will come from Maurice when he speaks after Florida’s morning skate at KeyBank Center.