Buffalo, NY (My Sportsbook) - Two teams with their sights on next season face off tonight when the Buffalo Sabres welcome the Florida Panthers to HSBC Arena.

Buffalo, which sits in a 27th-place tie with Atlanta in the NHL at 63 points, snapped a two-game losing streak (0-1-0-1) with a 4-3 home triumph over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Hecht scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Sabres came from behind to top the surging Avs.

Maxim Afinogenov and Daniel Briere also found the back of the net for the Sabres, who won for just the second time in their last seven games (2-3-0-2). Martin Biron stopped 33 shots in net for the victory, including both he faced in the extra frame.

Hecht has awoken since being placed on a line with Briere, who was obtained from Phoenix for Chris Gratton, and J.P. Dumont. The trio has combined for eight goals and four assists in seven games together.

Buffalo, which has split its last eight home contests, opened a three-game set Monday and will host Montreal on Friday.

Florida, meanwhile, is coming off an 0-3 homestand and hopes the road will be a bit kinder. The Panthers have won four of their last five on hostile ice as opposed to a 13-game home winless slide that remains intact.

On Monday the Cats dropped a 4-1 decision to New Jersey down at Office Depot Center. Marcus Nilson's power-play goal early in the third period drew Florida within a goal, but the Devils tallied twice in the final frame to pull away. Jani Hurme finished with 33 saves in defeat.

The Panthers, 16-12-5-4 on the road this season, begin a four-game trip tonight and will visit St. Louis on Thursday.

Florida and Buffalo are 1-1-1 against each other this season, and Panthers are 3-2-1 in the last six meetings. The Cats have won in two of their last three trips to HSBC Arena.