Overview
- Florida fell 5-3 to Buffalo for a fourth straight defeat, dropping to 28-24-3 and last in the Atlantic Division.
- Matthew Tkachuk criticized the team’s play, saying the Sabres are “way more skilled,” and urged Florida to simplify to grind out low-scoring wins.
- Sam Bennett exited with an upper-body injury, and coach Paul Maurice said Bennett, Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand could play Wednesday, with decisions coming after the morning skate.
- Injuries have gutted Florida down the middle, with last year’s four centers — Aleksander Barkov, Lundell, Bennett and Tomas Nosek — all hurt, forcing Eetu Luostarinen to shift to center.
- Only two games remain before a three-week Olympic break — Boston on Wednesday and Tampa Bay on Thursday — with Bruins coach Marco Sturm calling the matchup a one-game mission for two points.