Game Preview | 5 things to know ahead of Sabres at Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Buffalo Sabres open their final road trip of the season against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday.

The team will play against former captain Kyle Okposo, who was traded to the Panthers on March 8. Okposo has played five games for the Panthers, including their 4-0 win over Columbus on Thursday.

Pregame coverage on MSG/MSG+ begins at 4:30 p.m. with puck drop scheduled for 5. Radio coverage can be found on WGR 550.

Here are five things to know.

1. The lineup

Sabres coach Don Granato is scheduled to provide lineup updates to the media at 3:30 p.m.

Defenseman Bowen Byram missed the team’s game against Washington on Thursday due to a personal matter but is expected to meet the Sabres on the road trip, Granato said.

(Update 3:45 p.m.) - Byram will be in the lineup, Granato announced.

2. A milestone for Luukkonen

If he plays tonight, it will mark the 100th game of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s NHL career.

Luukkonen has started the last six games for the Sabres, including his 50th start of the season against Washington on Thursday. His 53 games played are the most by a Sabres goaltender since Robin Lehner also played 53 in 2017-18.

3. Tuch’s streak

Alex Tuch enters Saturday on a five-game point streak with three goals and five assists in that span.

Tuch leads the Sabres with 59 points this season.

4. Benson hits double digits

Zach Benson has six points (1+5) in his last five games after scoring his 10th goal of the season on Thursday, joining Phil Housley and Pierre Turgeon as the third player in Sabres history to hit that mark in his age 18 season.

Benson’s 29 points are the fourth-most by a Sabres player in his age 18 season, trailing Housley (66), Rasmus Dahlin (44), and Turgeon (42).

“A guy gets into double digits and you factor in his age and in no way, shape, or form did we think he would be on our roster before training camp started when we drafted him last June,” Granato said. “You just don’t think a kid that age can do it. But he has been impressive from day one of training camp.”

5. Scouting the Panthers

Florida trails Boston by one point for first place in the Atlantic Division after posting shutout wins in three of its last four games.

Sergei Bobrovsky had two of those shutouts, including a 25-save performance against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. Bobrovsky is expected to start against the Sabres in what would be his 700th game.

Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers with 54 goals and 91 points this season.