The Panthers, 7-2-0 in their past nine games and 11-3-0 in their past 14, are three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, with three games in hand.
Goaltender James Reimer is expected to start; he allowed seven goals on 34 shots in his last start, a 7-2 loss at the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 18.
Forward Kyle Okposo, who missed a 2-1 overtime win at the Tampa Bay Lightning attending the birth of his third child on Wednesday, will return to the Sabres lineup. Buffalo, 3-1-0 in its past four games after going 1-3-1 in its previous five games, is in last place in the Eastern Conference, 18 points out of the second wild card.