A.J. Greer got off the schneid, scoring a pair of goals to help the Florida Panthers topple the Buffalo Sabres by a 4-3 count at Key Bank Center. It was Buffalo’s first loss at home since November 28.

Aided by an early interference minor on Josh Doan, the Panthers drew first blood 2:35 into the action when Carter Verhaeghe took a pass from Sam Reinhart, who was knocked down, and fed Uvis Baliniskis at the left point. While Reinhart was getting back up and going to the net, Balinskis drifted to his right before letting go off a wrister that Reinhart tipped past Colten Ellis.

The Sabres countered at 10:19 when defenseman Jacob Bryson’s seeing-eye shot from the left point found its way through heavy traffic and Sergei Bobrovsky. The assists on Bryson’s goal were credited to Ryan McLeod and Zach Metsa.

Greer would put the Cats back on top 4:52 later. After exchanging passes with Sam Bennett as they rushed up ice, Greer unleashed a wicked wrister from the top of the right circle that beat Ellis’ glove, giving the 29-year-old his first goal of the new year.

Buffalo would get the only goal of the second period late in the frame. After fending off Reinhart, Thompson was able to get a shot off that Bobrovsky got a glove on, but couldn’t catch, and Zach Benson was able to knock the loose puck into the net.

Florida forged back ahead with 8:53 remaining in the third. Anton Lundell won an offensive zone faceoff to Reinhart, who dropped to Aaron Ekblad, who sent a short pass to Gustav Forsling. Despite being partially blocked, Forsling’s shot got through to the slot where Lundell put a backhander on goal. Ellis couldn’t cover the puck and Eetu Luostarinen was able to poke it over to Lundell and he finished the play off for his 14th of the season.

With Ellis off for an extra attacker, Thompson ripped a shot off the end boards and Bennett, Greer and Verhaeghe combined to work the puck out of the Panthers zone, creating a 2-on-1 break. Verhaeghe would cross to Greer and he would find the empty net from outside the blue line, putting the Cats up by two at 18:46.

They’d need that goal as the Sabres were able to convert on the 6-on-5 when Rasmus Dahlin’s shot was blocked by Verhaeghe, then deflected higher in the air by Bowen Byram before it was tipped off the side of the net by Alex Tuch. Tuch then collected the loose puck and backhanded it in off a befuddled Bobrovsky with 14 seconds to go.

The Panthers were able to kill the clock and shuffle out of Buffalo with two more points, evening their record on the record trip to 2-2. Los Gatos will a get a much-needed three-game break before facing the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh on Friday. Hopefully, the lineup will be fortified by the return of Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk.

The Five Hole

A.J. Greer first period snipe ended a nine-game goalless drought and eight-game run without any points. Greer matched his career-high of 17 points (set last season while playing 81 games) in his 45th game of this season.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 20 of 23 shots, including a ridiculous skate save on a shot that was redirected by Greer while he was moving the other way. Bobrovsky earned his 206th road win, tying him with Ed Belfour for third-most all-time.

In addition to taking the team lead in goals with his 24th, Sam Reinhart finished with a game-high seven shots and was credited with one hit and one block.

Carter Verhaeghe collected a season-high three assists in one game. Verhaeghe is now tied with Reinhart for the second-most helpers on the team with 21.

Eetu Luostarinen picked up his first point of 2026 and matched Aaron Ekblad with a team-high three blocked shots.

Stat Card