In 2021-22, Duclair set career-highs in goals (31), assists (27) and points (58).
"He brings a lot of offense," Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg said. "There's been quite a few games where we could've used a goal or two. You insert a guy like that, and it's what we need. We're looking forward to it."
Duclair's return couldn't come at a better time as the Panthers are expected to be without both Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett against the Sabres. Dealing with lingering issues, Bennett has missed the last three games, while Barkov is set to miss his first game in this current span.
Maurice is hopeful that both will be able to play on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"Barkov and Bennett didn't improve over the last few days, so I'll list them as day-to-day, possibly [back for] Tampa," said Maurice, who also added that Givani Smith has been placed on LTIR. "Fortunaetely we've got some days off here and can expect some healing."
Tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Panthers improved to 29-25-6 with a 4-3 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Panthers pulled even with the Ducks when Eric Staal and Marc Staal each lit the lamp in the second period to make it 2-2. In the third period, Dmitry Kulikov briefly put Anaheim on top 3-2 before Lomberg tipped in a shot to make it 3-3.
In overtime, Carter Verhaeghe beat John Gibson on a breakaway to lock in the 4-3 win.
"It's huge," Verhaeghe, who leads the Panthers with a career-high 30 goals, said after the win "We needed some momentum coming into our homestand. … It's awesome to get the win."
With two assists against the Ducks, Matthew Tkachuk recorded his team-high 26th multi-point game of the season. Earning at least one point in 18 of his last 22 games, the 2023 NHL All-Star Game MVP is fifth in the NHL in scoring with 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists).
Fresh off a 29-save performance against Anaheim, Sergei Bobrovsky will man the crease for the Panthers against Buffalo. His ninth start in the last 10 games, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has posted a 5-2-0 record with a .922 save percentage during that hot stretch.
"Biggest game of the year," Lomberg said. "As we go on here, the games are going to get bigger and bigger. We're up to the challenge and we're looking forward to it."
Just two points behind the Panthers in the standings with four games in hand, the Sabres improved to 29-23-4 with a 6-5 overtime win across the state at Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Leading 5-3 in the third period after Tage Thompson finished off his hat trick, the Sabres surrendered two goals to the Lightning to end up in overtime. On the penalty kill in the extra frame, Ilya Lyubushkin beat Andrei Vasilevskiy on a shorthanded breakaway for the 6-5 win.
After losing four straight games, Buffalo has won three of its last four.
"I just saw a straight line and wanted to go as fast as possible," Lyubushkin told reporters after beating the Lightning. "I saw I had a little bit of time, not a lot, and I just tried to shoot. It feels nice for my team, that's more important than me. We're trying to push for the playoffs right now."
Leading the charge up front for Buffalo, Thompson paces the team in goals (39) and points (75). Second among NHL defensemen in scoring, Rasmus Dahlin has posted 62 points (14 goals, 48 assists). Third on the team in scoring, Alex Tuch has produced 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists).
In Buffalo's net, three goaltenders have seen ample time. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen sits at 14-8-2 with a .894 save percentage, Craig Anderson has gone 8-7-2 with a .915 save percentage and Eric Comrie, who started against the Lightning, has a 7-8-0 record with a .882 save percentage.
Facing off for the third time this season, the Panthers have come out on top in each of their two previous meetings with the Sabres. Winning those games by a combined score of 8-4, Brandon Montour, who spent three seasons with Buffalo, has scored a goal in both games for Florida.
Always hot on home ice, the Panthers are 7-2-0 over their last nine games in Sunrise.
"Every [game's] big, and then [the games against] teams that you're competing with have a whole different level," Maurice said. "For two teams that are based on speed and kind of a transition game, I think this gets physical very fast. It'll be a heavy game tonight."
