The Buffalo Sabres look to continue their fast start when game road trip tonight against the Florida Panthers at BankAtlantic Center.
The Sabres are 2-0 so far on the trek and 4-1-0 overall this season. They are coming off Tuesday's 3-1 win at Montreal in which Thomas Vanek scored the go- ahead goal late in the second period. Jordan Leopold and Christian Ehrhoff also tallied markers for Buffalo, which is unbeaten on the road this season.
Ryan Miller made 40 saves, including 11 in the third period.
"As a team we played ugly to start the game. They worked hard and beat us to a lot of pucks, but [Miller] stole the two points, that's the only way to put it," Vanek said.
Buffalo is playing six of its first seven games away from home. Vanek is riding a five-game point streak and winger Jochen Hecht is listed as questionable for tonight's game with a concussion for the Sabres, who will close out their road swing Saturday at Tampa Bay. Hecht has yet to play in a game this season.
Florida is back at home after playing two straight and four of five games as the guest. It is coming off Tuesday's 3-0 loss at Washington, as Panthers netminder Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves in his first NHL start.
"He had a good solid game for us. Not the way you want your debut to go, but he didn't get a heck of a lot of support," said Panthers coach Kevin Dineen.
Dineen's club was one game removed from a 7-4 victory over the Lightning and registered a season-low 20 shots against the red-hot Capitals. Former Panthers goaltender and current Caps backstop Tomas Vokoun had 20 saves.
The Panthers are off to their best start since going 3-1-1 back in 2006-07. Defenseman Brian Campbell shares the NHL lead in assists with Erik Karlsson of the Senators with seven and forward Sean Bergenheim (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game.
Florida will also host the New York Islanders on the quick residency.
Buffalo and Florida split four matchups a season ago. The Sabres have won 10 of the past 14 contests in this series and are 9-6-1 over the previous 16 encounters in the Sunshine State.
