The Buffalo Sabres secured their first win of the season with a 5-2 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. After three consecutive losses where they struggled to score, the Sabres broke through with goals from Jordan Greenway, Tage Thompson, Henri Jokiharju, Mattias Samuelsson, and Alex Tuch, who scored an empty-netter. Thompson's goal, which came just 41 seconds after Greenway's equalizer, marked a turning point for the team. Panthers goalie Spencer Knight had a tough night, allowing five goals, while the Sabres' Devon Levi made 23 saves. The Panthers were missing key players, including captain Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, due to injuries and illness. This win also marked the first for Sabres coach Lindy Ruff in his second tenure with the team, ending a lengthy drought since his last victory in 2013.