Set to compete in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in South Florida next month, Tkachuk moved up to eighth in the NHL in scoring with three assists -- all primary helpers -- against the Sabres. As it stands now, the 25-year-old star leads the Panthers in goals (22), assists (34) and points (56).
Brandon Montour, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe all lit the lamp against the Sabres, while Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of 29 shots to subdue Buffalo's top-ranked offense.
"We built trust in each other, trust in the system," Bobrovsky said. "We just work hard, compete hard. We have a tough schedule, but it doesn't matter for us. We're just working hard for each other and working for those two points."
While head coach Paul Maurice won't announce a starting goaltender until his pregame media availability, there's a chance the Panthers choose to continue riding Bobrovsky's hot hand. Starting 15 of the last 19 games, Bobrovsky is 4-1-0 with a .919 save percentage over his last five starts.
"It's his first run of the year where he's getting a bunch of games," Maurice said when asked about Bobrovsky after his showing against the Sabres. "He's into a good rhythm. We need that kind of goaltending. He's battling in the net. He's a little bit acrobatic and intense. The guys like that. It looks good from the bench. He's making big saves and everyone's rallying around him."
Occupying second place in the Atlantic Division at 26-11-7, the Maple Leafs dropped both games on their recent two-game road trip. After falling by a score of 4-1 in Detroit, they were handed a 4-3 loss by the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins in their last outing on Saturday.
Tied 3-3 in the third period on goals from Michael Bunting, Pierre Engvall and Auston Matthews, the Maple Leafs gave up the game-winning goal to Matt Grzelcyk on a screened slap shot with just 1:16 left in regulation. In net, Matt Murry surrendered four goals on 30 shots for Toronto.
Mitchell Marner leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists). Fresh off an outstanding campaign in 2021-22 in which he took home the Rocket Richard and Hart Trophies, Matthews is second to Marner in scoring with 48 points (21 goals, 27 assists).
Also over 40 points for Toronto are William Nylander (47) and John Tavares (44).
Ilya Samsonov and Murray have been splitting time in net for the Maple Leafs. Samsonov has posted a 12-4-1 record with a .914 save percentage over 17 starts, while Murray, a Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh in 2016, has gone 11-5-2 with a .917 save percentage over 18 starts.
Getting together for their first of four meetings this season, the Panthers owned a 2-1-0 record against Toronto in 2021-22. Over those three games, the Panthers won both games played on their home ice, but suffered a 5-2 loss in their lone trip to Scotiabank Arena on March 27, 2022.
Overall, Florida has gone 4-2-0 in its last six meetings with the Maple Leafs.
"We're playing a back-to-back tomorrow against probably the hottest team in the NHL, maybe in the East, but one of the best teams in the league," Tkachuk said. "It's going to be a great measuring stick game for us."
