Sunrise, F.L. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – The Buffalo Sabres kick off the week, on the road, in the Sunshine State against the Florida Panthers. Alex Lyon mans the crease for the blue and gold at Amerant Bank Arena.

The Panthers opened the scoring, on a fortunate bounce, just 37-seconds into the first period. Defenseman Niko Mikkola’s shot hit his teammate AJ Greer in the back. Unfortunately for the Sabres, the puck bounded right to linemate Sandis Vilmanis, and he wired a shot above Alex Lyon’s left shoulder.

Florida then made it a 2-0 contest 5:54 into the opening frame. Another crummy bounce out in front of Lyon benefitted the Panthers, and forward Evan Rodrigues. His quick shot changed direction off Jason Zucker’s skate, allowing the puck to elude Lyon once more.

The Sabres offense got going though, and had their goalie’s back as they tied the game up before the first intermission.

First, Tage Thompson led by example. His cheeky move just inside the blue line helped open up space in the slot, and that was more than enough room for Thompson to snap his team-leading 29th goal past Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky.

This move from Tommer was CLEAN. 😮‍💨#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehood pic.twitter.com/drqKuHeP7e

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 3, 2026

Then, with 1:34 left in the period, Peyton Krebs powered home the tying goal off a centering feed from Rasmus Dahlin.

Mr. Krebs is definitely feeling it. 🚨#LetsGoBuffalo | #sabrehood pic.twitter.com/REp6AO0Wr6

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 3, 2026

It was Krebs’ seventh goal of the campaign.

—————

SCORING RECAP:

First Period:
BUF: 15:03 – Tage Thompson (29) (Peyton Krebs, Rasmus Dahlin); 18:26 – Peyton Krebs (Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch)
FLA: 0:37 – Sandis Vilmanis (2) (AJ Greer, Niko Mikkola); 5:54 – Evan Rodrigues (10) (Sam Reinhart, Tobias Bjornfot)

Second Period:
BUF:
FLA:

Third Period:
BUF:
FLA:

—————

STATS OF THE GAME

—————

Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.
2.
3.

—————

What’s Next:

Buffalo’s penultimate game before the Olympic break is tomorrow night, February 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Puck drop at Benchmark International Arena is at 7:30 p.m. EST with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.