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Buffalo Sabres Bounce Back with a Convincing Victory

Jordan Greenway and Tage Thompson led the charge as the Buffalo Sabres put an end to their rough start of the season with a resounding 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night. The dynamic duo netted goals with just 41 seconds between them in the first period, setting the tone for the rest of the match.

Joining them on the score sheet were Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson, and Alex Tuch, who sealed the deal with an empty-netter. This offensive surge from the Sabres proved a stark contrast to their first three games, in which they managed only three goals in total.

Lindy Ruff Celebrates His Return with a Win

Lindy Ruff marked a triumphant return to the Sabres’ bench, securing his first win in his second stint as the team’s coach – a significant 4,257 days after his previous victory with Buffalo.

Panthers’ Performance Falls Short

The Panthers were on the back foot, suffering their second consecutive loss following their season-opening win against Boston. Sam Bennett and Nate Schmidt contributed the only goals for the Florida team.

Their goaltender, Spencer Knight, managed to stop 22 shots in his initial start since a 6-2 defeat to St. Louis on Feb. 14, 2023. However, Knight’s performance left room for improvement, particularly on Thompson’s decisive goal that slipped through his legs from 25 feet.

Key Takeaways from the Game

The Sabres managed to steer clear of an 0-4 start, improving their record to 2-9-1 against the Panthers in their last 12 encounters. Their power play, however, continues to struggle, remaining scoreless in 14 attempts this season.

Critical Moments and Stats

Sabres’ goalie Devon Levi made a crucial save 32 seconds into the second period, denying Sam Reinhart’s shot off a 4-on-2 break, followed by Jokiharju extending Buffalo’s lead to 3-1 just 66 seconds later.

In a matchup of seasoned NHL coaches, Panthers’ Paul Maurice leads the list with 738 career losses, closely followed by Ruff, who ranks second. However, both coaches maintain impressive win records, with Maurice at fourth with 870 victories and Ruff at fifth with 865.

What’s Next for the Teams

The Panthers are set to continue their four-game road trip with a visit to Columbus on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Sabres are gearing up for a three-game swing, opening at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.