BUF 3–0 FLA Final · W
Sabres/Schedule/Recap Sat, Oct 18, 2025 · 2025-26 regular season
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 2-3-0
3–0
FinalW
Florida Panthers
FLA · 3-4-0
1ST2ND3RDT BUF 18213010331 FLA 012010010032 goals · shots on goal
First meeting this season — the Sabres lead the season series 1–0
BUF 2-3-0 · FLA 3-4-0 · First meeting this season — the Sabres lead the season series 1–0

Sabres beat the Panthers

The Sabres were outchanced (3.5 to 2.9 expected goals) but won 3–0 anyway. Alex Lyon stopped 3.5 more goals than an average goalie would have.

Who had the better chances

The Panthers created the better chances: 3.5 expected goals to 2.9, on 32 and 31 shots on goal.

BUF 2.9 xG · 31 shots FLA 3.5 xG · 32 shots
0
1
2
3
4
1st 0.8 · 1.4
2nd 1.5 · 0.9
3rd 0.6 · 1.1
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Sabres win 41.
BUF 41%FLA 59%

Goals and penalties

3 goals · 16 penalties
← Sabres shoot this way Panthers shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
PEN
00:09 Zach Benson· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
03:51 Bowen Byram· Interference
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
07:07 Uvis Balinskis· Interference
Doan scored on this power play
2 min
Minor
1
07:13 Josh Doan PPGWG
Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin · Power play (Balinskis, interference) · deflected shot, a good chance (14%)
1–0
PEN
13:28 Bench· Too many men on the ice
Killed
2 min
Bench minor
PEN
19:45 Peyton Krebs· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
2nd period
PEN
00:53 Anton Lundell· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
04:14 Niko Mikkola· Holding
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
05:00 Jason Zucker· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
10:40 Brad Marchand· Interference
Doan scored on this power play
2 min
Minor
PEN
10:40 Brad Marchand· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
10:40 Tage Thompson· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
2
11:12 Josh Doan PP
Jason Zucker, Zach Benson · Power play (Marchand, interference) · tip in shot, a good chance (14%)
2–0
3
14:20 Owen Power
Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs · tip in shot, a low-percentage shot (8%) that found a way in
3–0
PEN
17:04 Mason Geertsen· Abusive language
10 min
Misconduct
PEN
19:48 Josh Doan· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
19:48 Mattias Samuelsson· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
PEN
19:48 Eetu Luostarinen· Roughing
Offsetting
2 min
Minor
3rd period
PEN
07:10 Conor Timmins· Delaying game puck over glass
Killed
2 min
Minor
Goaltending
+3.5
vs expected
32/32 saves · 0 GA · 3.5 xGA Stopped 3.5 more goals than an average goalie would have.
−0.1
vs expected
28/31 saves · 3 GA · 2.9 xGA Gave up about what the shots he faced would predict.
Team BUFFLA
Shots on goal
31
32
Expected goals
2.9
3.5
Hits
0
0
Blocks
0
0
Faceoffs
50%
50%
Power play
2/3
0/6
Penalty minutes
0
0
The Sabres went 2-for-3 on the power play and killed all 6 Panthers power plays.