The Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres hit the ice for a Monday afternoon tilt at KeyBank Arena as a number of holidays are being celebrated today.

Here in the States, it is Indigenous Peoples’ Day as well as Columbus Day.

Panthers lines tonight: projected lineup and starting goalie →

Across the Peace Bridge not far from the Buffalo arena, Thanksgiving is celebrated by our good friends in Canada.

Today is also National Farmer’s Day, National Pulled Pork Day, and, our favorite, National Gumbo Day.

So, it seems everyone has something to celebrate this Monday afternoon.

With the Panthers in Buffalo, perhaps order up some wings from your local go-to joint, sit back, and enjoy the afternoon.

Or, tune in from work if your place doesn’t properly celebrate National Gumbo Day.

GAMEDAY NOTES: PANTHERS at SABRES

Paul Maurice is sticking with having the Tkachuk Bros. play with Sam Bennett; Sam Reinhart is going back to his roots as a center, a position he last played regularly while with the Sabres. The Jail Line gets its run.

The Panthers have the worst power play in the NHL to start this season — but the Sabres ain’t much better.

Aaron Ekblad really does not want to be the Panthers’ all-time leader in games played. That means Sasha Barkov is hurt. But, Ekblad now has the franchise record.

Eetu Luostarinen left Saturday’s game in third after getting hit for the second time in as many games by a shot from a teammate. He said Sunday that he was fine, and only had a ‘stinger.’ If he had been struck in the second period, as was the case in Los Angeles, instead of the third, he would have returned to the game. “Just ran out of time,’’ he said.

Starting Goalies: Although Maurice left town without mentioning his starting goalie, we’re guessing the Panthers turn to Akira Schmid for this one based on the early start and all. The Sabres are expected to go with Colten Ellis.

How to Watch/Stream: The Panthers are on Scripps — which means no Judge Mathis or The People’s Court on Ch. 39 today. Sorry folks.

NHL Betting Odds: The Panthers and Sabres are even-money at -110 on the money line at the local sports book. If you think the Panthers get right today in Wing Town, a straight money line win of $110 wins $100.

ON DECK: GAME No. 6

FLORIDA PANTHERS at BUFFALO SABRES

When: Monday, 1 p.m.

Where: KeyBank Arena, Buffalo

Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WPTV 5/WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)

Streaming: Panthers+; ESPN+

Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM. Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL App

Local Betting Odds — Even: MoneyLine (-110/-110); Florida Puck Line -1.5 (+200); O/U 5.5 (-130/+105)

Last Season: Sabres Won 3-1

This Season — At Buffalo: Monday; March 20. At Florida: Nov. 21; Dec. 30

All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 61-48-8, 4 ties

Up Next for the Panthers: Tuesday at Columbus Blue Jackets, 6:15 p.m.

PROJECTED FLORIDA PANTHERS (2-1-2) LINES

8 Brady Tkachuk // 9 Sam Bennett // 19 Matthew Tkachuk

23 Carter Verhaeghe // 13 Sam Reinhart // 18 Sam Lafferty

27 Eetu Luostarinen // 15 Anton Lundell // 95 Sandis Vilmanis

14 Bokondji Imama // 20 Lars Eller // 21 Garnet Hathaway

42 Gus Forsling // 5 Aaron Ekblad

77 Niko Mikkola // 3 Seth Jones

7 Dmitry Kulikov // 6 Radko Gudas

40 Akira Schmid

25 Jacob Markstrom

Scratched: Uvis Balinskis

Injured: Sasha Barkov (knee/LTIR), Brad Marchand (knee), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body/LTIR)

PROJECTED BUFFALO SABRES (2-3-0) LINES

19 Peyton Krebs // 72 Tage Thompson // 91 Josh Doan

6 Zach Benson // 86 Noah Ostlund // 22 Jack Quinn

20 Jiri Kulich // 9 Josh Norris // 94 Konsta Helenius

71 Ryan McLeod // 10 Sam Carrick // 29 Beck Malenstyn

26 Rasmus Dahlin // 23 Mattias Samuelsson

25 Owen Power // 73 Zach Metsa

8 Olen Zellweger // 46 Louis Crevier

92 Colten Ellis

1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Scratched: Justin Danforth, Tyson Kozak, Matt Grzelcyk

Injured: Alex Lyon (upper body), Conor Timmins (lower body), Jason Zucker (sports hernia)

Sabres Lines Courtesy NHL.com

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George Richards is the publisher of Florida Hockey Now and has been the beat writer covering the NHL Florida … More about George Richards, FHN Publisher