The Florida Panthers will face the Buffalo Sabres without key players, including captain Aleksander Barkov and winger Matthew Tkachuk, both sidelined due to injury and illness, respectively. Barkov is expected to miss two to three weeks after sustaining a lower body injury, while Tkachuk is out for the game due to illness. The Panthers, who started the season strong by defeating the Bruins, were unable to maintain momentum, losing their last game against the Senators. In response to the injuries, Florida has called up rookie forward Patrick Giles for his NHL debut. Spencer Knight is set to start in goal as the Panthers reconfigure their lineup. Despite these setbacks, the Panthers remain a strong contender for the season with their core players intact.