Buffalo's problem is the opposite end of the ice. The Sabres were shut out 4-0 by Dallas at KeyBank Center, then lost 4-1 to Utah in a game that was tied after 1 period before the Mammoth scored the last 3. That's 1 goal across 2 home games. After the Dallas loss Lindy Ruff said, "Our starts have to be better. We have to start putting the puck in the back of the net early," and he shook up the lineup for Utah. It didn't take.
Monday closes Buffalo's 5-game homestand, which began with gritty 1-goal wins over Chicago and Minnesota before the offense dried up. The Sabres' own injury list is mostly depth. Jason Zucker is still a few weeks away, per The Athletic. In goal, Alex Lyon has been skating at optional practices, but Topias Leinonen is on the injured non-roster list. Conor Timmins and Jack Rathbone being out thins the blue line, which matters against a Florida team that wins by forechecking and grinding.
Puck drop is 1:00 PM ET on Monday, October 12, and the schedule is worth a look. Florida played at home in Sunrise on Saturday evening and has to fly north for an early afternoon start with 1 day in between. Buffalo has been sleeping in its own beds all week. If the Panthers get the low-event game they like, their structure can still beat a Sabres team that's gripping the stick. If Buffalo scores first and makes Florida chase without its 2 best playmakers up the middle, that's how the Panthers lost to Minnesota.