SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Jason Zucker broke a 3-3 tie on a power play at 5:31 of the third period and the Buffalo Sabres beat the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-3 on Monday.

The Sabres have won six of seven and took over the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They hold a 10-point lead over the Panthers. Florida, which has lost four straight, trails Boston by nine for the final playoff position with 27 games remaining.

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NHL roundup: Zucker scores the winner as surging Sabres pounce on Panthers 5-3

Florida Panthers center Jesper Boqvist (70) and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) collide along the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

JTB

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