BUFFALO, N.Y. - Florida Panthers starting goalie Jacob Markstrom left Monday afternoon’s game against the Buffalo Sabres after just one period, and backup Akira Schmid could not hold the lead as the Panthers dropped a 5-3 decision, Florida Hockey Now reported.
Markstrom made nine saves on 11 shots in the opening 20 minutes before coach Paul Maurice pulled him at the first intermission, citing something that “tightened up.” Maurice was measured in his postgame assessment. “There’s no injury there,” he said following the loss. “There’s nothing we can’t deal with. Just standard stuff.”
Schmid stepped in to start the second period and finished with 18 saves on 21 shots, but the Panthers could not overcome the deficit. The loss drops Florida to 2-2-2 on the season, a stretch made more difficult by the absences of captain Sasha Barkov and Brad Marchand, both sidelined with injuries.
Schmid is expected to start Tuesday when the Panthers face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, at 6:15 p.m. Florida leads the all-time regular-season series against Columbus 29-17-10 and won the teams’ most recent meeting 2-1 last season. The two clubs are also scheduled to meet again Nov. 10 in Columbus.
The Panthers’ next home game is Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks at 7 p.m.