Paul Maurice confirms Florida Panthers lineup for game vs red-hot Sabres

Paul Maurice confirmed Bobrovsky gets the net again, and Florida is rolling with the exact same lineup and pairings as Saturday in Ottawa. That vote of confidence feels loud with Buffalo flying right now.

Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand were on the ice at the morning skate, but neither took reps with the group, and neither is expected to play. The Panthers injury list is still a long read.

Buffalo isn't just «improved,» it's banked wins like a team that's done waiting. The Sabres enter 24-15-4, while Florida comes in at 23-18-3, and that standings gap changes the vibe.

With no reinforcements coming tonight, Florida has to elevate the details, cleaner exits, fewer neutral-zone gifts, and zero lazy stick penalties. Ottawa was winnable, Buffalo will punish you for one soft shift.

As a Panthers fan, I'm nervous because Buffalo's crowd can smell hesitation from a mile away.

This is also a huge spot for Bobrovsky's rhythm, because the numbers say he's been uneven, but the film says he still makes the big saves when the game turns. Saturday was calm, patient, and exactly the version Florida needs again.

The Sabres will test him differently, with more quick-strike looks and more traffic on second chances. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has quietly stabilized Buffalo's crease lately, so Florida can't wait for a gift goal.

Up front, this is where the patchwork lineup has to grow up fast. Sandis Vilmanis stays in, A.J. Greer keeps those heavier minutes, and somebody has to win a net-front battle that usually belongs to a star.

If the Panthers steal two points in this building with the same lineup, it changes the whole road trip mood. If they don't, it's another reminder that surviving injuries is one thing, but beating a red-hot team is another.

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