Sabres Beat Panthers 5-3 in Tight Playoff Race

Jason Zucker's third-period power play goal breaks tie in key Eastern Conference matchup.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:15am

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The Buffalo Sabres defeated the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-3 on Monday night in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup. Jason Zucker broke a third-period tie with a power play goal, and the Sabres held on for the victory. The win moves Buffalo into the first wild-card spot in the East, while the Panthers have now lost four straight games and are struggling to stay in playoff position.

Why it matters

This game was a key battle in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race. The Sabres have been surging of late, while the Panthers are dealing with injuries to key players like Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand. The outcome of this game could have major implications on the final playoff picture in the East.

The details

The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period, but the Sabres scored the next three goals to take a 3-2 lead. Florida tied it late in the second on a power play, but Zucker's goal in the third gave Buffalo the lead for good. Peyton Krebs had a goal and two assists for the Sabres, while Alex Lyon made 38 saves in the win. The Panthers lost center Sam Bennett to an upper-body injury in the first period.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 2, 2026.
  • Zucker's game-winning goal came at 5:31 of the third period.
  • The Sabres have now won 6 of their last 7 games.

The players

Jason Zucker

Buffalo Sabres forward who scored the game-winning goal on the power play in the third period.

Peyton Krebs

Buffalo Sabres forward who had a goal and two assists in the win.

Sergei Bobrovsky

Florida Panthers goaltender who made 15 saves in the loss.

Sam Bennett

Florida Panthers center who left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return.

Alex Lyon

Buffalo Sabres goaltender who made 38 saves to earn the victory.

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What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for us in the playoff race. We knew we had to come out strong against the defending champs.”

— Jason Zucker, Buffalo Sabres forward

What’s next

The Sabres will look to build on this win when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. The Panthers, meanwhile, will try to snap their four-game losing streak when they host the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the tight Eastern Conference playoff race, with the surging Sabres taking over the first wild-card spot and the struggling Panthers falling further behind. Buffalo's ability to rally from an early deficit and get a key power play goal from Zucker could prove pivotal as the season winds down.