If you were watching the scoreboard last night, you saw the Florida Panthers pull off a gritty 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. It wasn't exactly a Picasso. It was more like a construction site—loud, messy, and full of heavy lifting. But in the NHL, two points in January are two points, regardless of how much paint you leave on the boards.
The Florida Panthers won. Honestly, they needed this one.
Coming into KeyBank Center, the Sabres were arguably the hottest team in the league. They’d won 13 of their last 14 games. People were starting to talk about Buffalo like they were the 1980s Oilers. Then the defending Stanley Cup champs showed up and basically said, "Not tonight."
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The Game Breakdown: How Florida Stunned Buffalo
The game was a back-and-forth affair that felt like a playoff preview. Florida struck first. Sam Reinhart, who continues to be a human cheat code on the power play, redirected a Uvis Balinskis shot just 2:35 into the first period. You've seen that movie before. Reinhart stands in the "kitchen," someone shoots, and the puck ends up in the net.
Buffalo didn't blink. Jacob Bryson tied it up later in the first, but A.J. Greer—the night's unlikely hero—restored the lead for Florida before the first intermission.
The second period was mostly a stalemate until Zach Benson tied it for Buffalo with about two minutes left. Benson’s been on a tear lately, and he found a way to poke a rebound past Sergei Bobrovsky.
Then came the third.
Anton Lundell broke the 2-2 tie midway through the final frame. He didn't score a highlight-reel goal; he just outworked everyone in front of the net to shove his own rebound past Buffalo's Colten Ellis.
A.J. Greer added an empty-netter with 1:14 left. That proved to be the game-winner, because Alex Tuch scored a late one for Buffalo with 14 seconds on the clock to make the final score 4-3.
Why A.J. Greer Was the X-Factor
Most people expected Tkachuk or Barkov to dominate the headlines. Instead, it was A.J. Greer.
Greer recorded his second two-goal game of the season. His first goal was a nice conversion off a feed from Sam Bennett, and his empty-netter was the insurance policy Florida desperately needed. While the superstars provide the flash, guys like Greer provide the floor. He played a physical, North-South game that disrupted Buffalo’s flow.
Bobrovsky and the Defensive Wall
Sergei Bobrovsky wasn't "busy" in the traditional sense, facing only 23 shots, but he was timely.
The Panthers' defense deserves a lot of credit here. They limited the Sabres to just two shots on goal during the first 14 minutes of the third period. That’s how you close out a game. You don't let them breathe. You don't let them cross the blue line with speed.
What Really Happened With the Carolina Panthers?
Whenever someone asks who won the Panthers game last night, there is usually a split in the search results between the ice and the turf.
If you were looking for NFL news, the Carolina Panthers actually played their "last night" game a couple of evenings ago on Saturday, January 10. That was a heartbreaking Wild Card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
- The Score: Rams 34, Panthers 31.
- The Hero: Matthew Stafford threw a late TD to Colby Parkinson.
- The Result: Carolina’s season is over.
It was a tough pill to swallow for Bryce Young and company. They had a 31-27 lead with less than three minutes to go, but Stafford is Stafford. He marched the Rams 71 yards to end Carolina's playoff run in the first round.
So, if you’re a Carolina fan, "last night" was probably spent mourning a season that actually showed some real promise toward the end. If you’re a Florida fan, last night was a party in Buffalo.
Misconceptions About Florida's Current Form
Some critics have pointed out that Florida hasn't looked like the juggernaut they were last spring. They’ve been hovering around the playoff bubble for much of the winter.
However, Paul Maurice recently mentioned he "liked the way they played" even in a recent 6-2 loss to Montreal. That sounds like coach-speak, right? Maybe not.
The underlying stats show Florida is still suppressing high-danger chances. They just had a stretch of "puck luck" that was, frankly, abysmal. Last night in Buffalo, the luck started to turn. They got the bounces in front of the net. They got the calls.
Key Stats from the Florida vs. Buffalo Matchup
- Final Score: 4-3 Florida
- Shots on Goal: Florida 32, Buffalo 23
- Power Play: Florida 1/1, Buffalo 0/2
- Hits: Buffalo 22, Florida 18
Buffalo actually out-hit the Panthers, which is rare. Florida is usually the bully in the playground. But the Sabres were playing with a lot of desperation, trying to keep that home winning streak alive.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The Florida Panthers are finally heading home. They've been on a grueling six-game road trip that started with some ugly losses in Toronto and Montreal.
They’ll get a few days of practice at their home facility before hitting the road again for a back-to-back set. On Friday, they face the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, followed by a Saturday night clash with the Capitals in D.C.
For the Buffalo Sabres, the loss is a wake-up call. They’ve been playing over their heads for a month, and a game against the defending champs is a good way to see where you actually stand. They host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the Panthers (Florida), keep an eye on the second line. The chemistry between Lundell and Luostarinen is starting to peak at the right time.
For the Carolina Panthers fans, the focus shifts immediately to the draft and free agency. Bryce Young proved he belongs in the playoffs, but the defense needs a closer.
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Watch the Friday matchup. When Florida heads to Carolina on Friday, January 16, it’s going to be a battle of two heavyweights. Florida is trying to climb the Atlantic Division standings, and the Hurricanes are always a measuring stick in the East.
If you're betting on the Panthers (NHL), look at the "Under" for their next few games. They are tightening up the defensive zone, and Bobrovsky looks dialed in. The high-scoring, chaotic games of December seem to be behind them as they move into a more "playoff-style" grind for the second half of the season.
The Florida Panthers won. They're back. And they're still dangerous.