Sabres Daily: Leafs Fall To Florida, Buffalo Longshot In NHL Lottery

The Buffalo Sabres finished just one point behind the Florida Panthers in the wildcard race but the Panthers are a victory away from reaching the Eastern Conference Final after a 3-2 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday,

SAM REINHART WINS IT! #StanleyCup

Sam Reinhart tucks home a wrap-around opportunity and gives the @FlaPanthers the 3-0 series lead. pic.twitter.com/ScuD71IonA

— NHL (@NHL) May 8, 2023

Former Sabre Sam Reinhart scored on a wraparound 3:02 into overtime to give the Panthers their sixth consecutive victory of the playoffs. Florida came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first round to upset the top-seeded Boston Bruins, and have taken the first three games against Toronto, who eliminated Tampa Bay in six games.

The Leafs are on the verge of elimination due mostly to their top players being stymied by Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander all have been held without a goal. Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov left the game in the second period after colliding with teammate Luke Schenn and was replaced by rookie Joseph Woll.

Sabres In Case You Missed It

• Sabres Prospect Neuchev Signed To Entry-Level Contract
• Former Sabres Enjoying Success In Stanley Cup Playoffs
• Owen Power Nominated For Calder
• Adams Looking Ahead To Address Areas Of Need
• Prospect Sandin-Pellikka Could Be Option For Sabres At ’23 Draft

NHL Draft Lottery Odds

The Sabres have a two per cent chance of winning the NHL Draft Lottery being held on Monday, but even if they do, the maximum a team can move up is 10 slots. Buffalo finished 20th in the league with a 42-25-7 record, so the highest they could climb is to third overall.

Anaheim Ducks – 23-47-12,  58 points. Odds: 25.5%

Columbus Blue Jackets – 25-48-9,  59. Odds: 13.5%

Chicago Blackhawks – 26-49-7,  59. Odds: 11.5%

San Jose Sharks – 22-44-16,  60. Odds: 9.5%

Montreal Canadiens – 31-45-6, 68. Odds: 8.5%

Arizona Coyotes – 28-40-14, 70. Odds: 7.5%

Philadelphia Flyers – 31-38-13, 75. Odds: 6.5%

Washington Capitals – 35-37-10, 80. Odds: 6.0%

Detroit Red Wings – 35-37-10, 80. Odds: 5.0%

St. Louis Blues – 37-38-7, 81. Odds: 3.5%

Vancouver Canucks – 38-37-7, 83. Odds: 3.0%

Ottawa Senators – 39-35-8, 86. Odds: 2.5%**

Buffalo Sabres – 42-25-7, 91. Odds: 2.0%.

Pittsburgh Penguins – 40-31-11, 92. Odds: 1.5%.

Nashville Predators – 42-32-8, 92. Odds: 0.5%.

Calgary Flames – 38-27-17, 93. Odds: 0.5%

Hockey Now Network

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Florida: Gallant Out, Rangers Not Interested In Quenneville (Florida Panthers)

Los Angeles: Kings Free Agents: Who Stays, Who Goes? (Los Angeles Kings)

Montreal: Canadiens Overage Bonuses Will Impact Salary Cap Next Season (Montreal Canadiens)

Pittsburgh: Penguins Rumors, Goalie Candidates and Insider Info (Pittsburgh Penguins)

San Jose: Chris Peters On Who The Sharks Might Pick At The ’23 Draft (San Jose Sharks)