(My Sportsbook) - A key battle in the Eastern Conference playoff race is on tap tonight in Buffalo, as the struggling Sabres host the Florida Panthers tonight at HSBC Arena.

The Panthers are currently last among the eight playoff seeds in the East with 77 points on the year. Buffalo is four points back of Florida in 10th.

The Sabres have lost two straight and five of their last seven games and were outscored by an 11-5 margin in their last two contests.

Buffalo was handed a 6-3 setback Saturday in Ottawa and was then dealt a 5-2 loss Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. Tuesday's game was tied at 1-1 heading into the third period, but the Flyers scored the first four goals of the final stanza to skate away with the victory. Scott Hartnell recorded four points on two goals and two assists to lead Philly.

Maxim Afinogenov and Jochen Hecht tallied for the Sabres. Patrick Lalime was pulled after allowing four goals on 29 shots in the loss. Mikael Tellqvist finished the game by giving up a goal on four shots.

Lalime is 2-4-1 in seven starts since No. 1 goaltender Ryan Miller went down with a high ankle sprain on February 21. Miller is on injured reserve and is out indefinitely.

The Sabres is 19-12-2 as the host this year and are playing the first of two straight on home ice tonight. Buffalo has won its last three on home ice and will also host Atlanta on Saturday.

The Panthers, meanwhile, have dropped two of their last three games and were dealt a loss Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Kris Letang scored the game-winning goal in the shootout, leading the Penguins to the 4-3 decision over the Panthers at Mellon Arena.

Nick Boynton, Kamil Kreps and Keith Ballard scored for the Panthers, while Tomas Vokoun turned in strong effort with 47 saves in the loss.

Tonight marks the second of two straight on the road for Florida, which will begin a five-game homestand Saturday against Tampa Bay. The Panthers are 16-15-4 as the guest this year and have split their last six road games.

Florida and the Sabres have split a pair of meetings this year, but this will be the first encounter in western New York for the clubs. Buffalo has taken three of four, six of eight and eight of the last 11 matchups in this series overall and the Panthers have dropped four of five on the road against the Sabres.