The surging Florida Panthers, winners of five straight and fresh off a commanding 3-0 shutout against Columbus, welcome a Buffalo Sabres team that's desperately trying to snap out of an 0-4-1 skid.
While Florida's recent defensive masterclass has seen them allow just eight goals in their last seven games, the Sabres' leaky defense continues to be their Achilles' heel, having surrendered at least four goals in each of their last five outings.
The Atlantic Division clash at Amerant Bank Arena pits the division-leading Panthers, bolstered by deadline acquisitions Brad Marchand and Seth Jones, against a Sabres squad that sits 27 points behind their hosts.
Florida Panthers vs. Buffalo Sabres prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Florida Panthers vs Buffalo Sabres matchup, our predictive model gives the Panthers a 74% chance of defeating the Sabres.
Pre-game probabilities
Florida Panthers
Moneyline
Win %
74%
26%
Buffalo Sabres
Florida Panthers: 74% win probability
- Dominant offensive output (209 goals scored, 2nd in Atlantic Division)
- Strong recent momentum (WWWWW in last 5 games)
- Excellent overall record (39 wins in 63 games, 81 points)
Buffalo Sabres: 26% win probability
- Poor defensive record (214 goals against, worst in Atlantic Division)
- Struggling form (LLLLL in last 5 games)
- Road game disadvantage (last place in Atlantic with only 24 wins in 61 games)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts.
Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
| Florida Panthers | Buffalo Sabres | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
Florida Panthers vs. Buffalo Sabres preview
The red-hot Florida Panthers welcome a struggling Buffalo Sabres squad to Amerant Bank Arena in what's shaping up to be a classic David vs. Goliath matchup in the Atlantic Division.
Florida's been absolutely dominant lately, riding a five-game win streak while showing some serious defensive muscle - they've only allowed eight goals in their last seven games, with Sergei Bobrovsky looking like a brick wall between the pipes.
The Sabres, despite showing flashes of offensive firepower with Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson combining for impressive numbers, just can't seem to plug the holes in their defense, giving up at least four goals in their last five outings.
Panthers' recent trade deadline moves speak volumes about their championship ambitions - bringing in veterans Seth Jones and Brad Marchand shows they're all-in for another Cup run, though Marchand's currently sidelined with an upper-body issue.
Sam Reinhart's been lighting it up for Florida with 32 goals this season, while Aleksander Barkov's playmaking has been crucial to the Panthers' power play success.
Buffalo's recent roster shake-up, including the departure of Dylan Cozens, hasn't exactly sparked the turnaround they were hoping for - they're winless in their last five games and struggling to find their identity.
The Panthers have owned this matchup recently, taking eight of the last ten meetings, and with the way both teams are trending, it's hard to see that pattern changing tonight.
Keep an eye on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in the Sabres' net - he'll need to channel his early-season form if Buffalo wants any shot at playing spoiler against this high-flying Panthers team.
Florida Panthers vs. Buffalo Sabres form
Florida Panthers vs. Buffalo Sabres head to head
Florida Panthers
83%
Buffalo Sabres
17%
Oct 28, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
2 : 5
Florida Panthers
Oct 12, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
5 : 2
Florida Panthers
Apr 13, 2024
Florida Panthers
3 : 2
Buffalo Sabres
Feb 28, 2024
Florida Panthers
3 : 2
Buffalo Sabres
Feb 16, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
0 : 4
Florida Panthers
Apr 4, 2023
Florida Panthers
2 : 1
Buffalo Sabres
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