The Buffalo Sabres delivered an impressive performance on Saturday afternoon, securing a 3-0 triumph over the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center. Josh Doan shone brightly during the game, notching two power play goals, while goaltender Alex Lyon made an outstanding 32 saves to earn the shutout.
The Sabres relied on their special teams early on, successfully killing off two penalties in the first period to keep the game scoreless. Shortly afterward, Doan scored his first goal as a Sabre just seconds into Buffalo’s first power play opportunity. The initial shot from Tage Thompson ricocheted off Doan, giving Buffalo a 1-0 lead, with assists credited to Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin.
Doan’s performance didn’t stop there. A costly extra penalty on Panthers winger Brad Marchand allowed the Sabres to capitalize once more. With Florida’s defense momentarily compromised, Doan found himself at the blue paint and tapped in a pass from Jason Zucker into an empty net, doubling the Sabres’ lead to 2-0. Zach Benson assisted on this goal, marking both a successful power play and a solid game for Doan.
Later in the second period, Buffalo continued to build on their advantage when Alex Tuch set up defenseman Owen Power for his first goal of the season, making it 3-0. This marked the first even-strength goal of the game, with Tuch and Peyton Krebs receiving assists on the play.
In the third period, the Sabres maintained their dominance; neither team managed to score, with Buffalo executing a flawless performance on the penalty kill, successfully navigating all seven opportunities the Panthers had on the power play. The team’s solid defensive play and Lyon’s impressive goaltending were key to securing the shutout victory.
The game concluded with Lyon being recognized as the first star, followed by Doan and Power. Looking ahead, the Sabres will head on the road for a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, with the puck set to drop at 7:30 p.m.
This victory not only highlights the Sabres’ potential in pressing through with effective special teams but also showcases the promising play of newcomers like Doan as they settle into the Sabres lineup. Fans of Buffalo can hope this momentum carries into their upcoming games, as the team looks to build a successful season.