BUFFALO, N.Y. — In an impressive comeback, Florida Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov made a significant impact in his return from an eight-game absence due to a lower-body injury. He played a crucial role in leading the team to a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.
Barkov registered both a goal and an assist, helping the Panthers take control of the game. The turning point came when Carter Verhaeghe netted the game-winning goal with just over three minutes remaining in the second period, extending his point streak to seven games with that tally and an assist.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage with quick goals from Jesper Boqvist and Sam Reinhart, who scored fewer than one minute apart during the first period. Sam Bennett also contributed to the scoreline, while goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a solid performance with 26 saves. Since starting the season with a record of 1-2, Florida has turned things around, showing a commendable 6-1-1 stretch since then.
However, the Sabres fought back, with Rasmus Dahlin and Jason Zucker scoring in a swift 1:52, leveling the game at 2-2 mid-way through the second period. Buffalo’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished with 25 saves, doing his best to keep the team in the contest.
**Key Takeaways:**
For Florida, this performance showcased a notable improvement since their last meeting in Buffalo, where they suffered a 5-2 defeat on October 12 without key players such as Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk (due to illness), and when backup goalie Spencer Knight took the net. Meanwhile, Buffalo is gradually improving but missed the chance to secure four consecutive wins, which would have marked their first streak of that length since January 2023.
**Key Moment:**
The pivotal moment in the match saw Verhaeghe score after being left unmarked in front of the net, converting a rebound from Tkachuk’s shot taken from the right circle, providing the Panthers with crucial momentum.
**Key Stat:**
The Panthers achieved their fifth consecutive road victory, marking the longest such streak since they enjoyed an unprecedented franchise record of 11 consecutive road wins last season between December 27 and February 17.
**Looking Ahead:**
Next up for the Panthers is a trip to Tampere, Finland, where they will face the Dallas Stars in a two-game series set for Friday and Saturday. The Sabres, on the other hand, will look to rebound at home as they conclude a four-game homestand against the New York Islanders on Friday night.