Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers vs. Sabres Preview: Lineups, Notes & How to Watch

Published

1 year ago

March 17, 2023

Philadelphia Flyers winger Joel Farabee celebrates his goal in a 4-0 win in Buffalo on Jan. 9. He hasn't scored since that game. Photo: AP.

The Philadelphia Flyers have lost four straight and 12 of their last 14, improving their position in the draft lottery.

On Friday, they get a chance to hurt a team’s playoff chances when they host the high-scoring Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo (33-28-6) is six points out of the final wild-card spot (Islanders), but has three games in hand on the Isles. The Sabres are trying to avenge a 4-0 loss to the Flyers on Jan. 9.

Carter Hart, who missed Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to Vegas because of an illness, will face one of the NHL’s best offenses.

The Philadelphia Flyers (24-32-11), on the other hand, have struggled mightily to find the back of the net. They have averaged just 2.05 goals in their last 20 games, during which they have four wins (4-12-4).

Props to @JHallNBCS for counting the number of times Torts said Wade Allison was “always hurt” in yesterday’s media availability — 9. #Flyers

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 17, 2023

Flyers’ expected lineup

Laughton-Cates-Tippett

Lemieux-Frost-JVR

Farabee-Hayes-Foerster

Deslauriers-Laczynski-Allison

Defense

Provorov-York

Sanheim-Ristolainen

Seeler-DeAngelo

Goalie

Hart (17-21-10, 2.96 GAA, .906 SP)

Sabres’ expected lineup

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch

Olofsson-Cozens-Quinn

Greenway-Mittelstadt-Hinostroza

Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo

Defense

Dahlin-Bryson

Power-Jokiharju

Stillman-Lyubushkin

Goalie

Anderson (10-9-2, 2,79, .917)

Breakaways

The Sabres have five players who have scored 20-plus goals: Tage Thompson (42), Alex Tuch (30) Jeff Skinner (29), Dylan Cozens (26), and Victor Olofsson (24). … Buffalo’s power play is fourth in the NHL, clicking at 24.6%. The Flyers’ PP is last in the league (14.9%) and is in a 3-for-40 funk. … On the flip side, the Sabres have the league’s second-worst penalty kill (72.2%); the Flyers are 26th (74.5%). … The Sabres have the league’s third-most potent offense in the NHL (3.66 goals per game), scoring more than a goal per game more than Philly (2.55, 30th). … Buffalo RW JJ Peterka, 21, has five points over his last four games. … Morgan Frost has two goals over his last four games.. … Travis Konecny was at Friday’s morning skate in a non-contact jersey. … The Flyers lead the all-time series against Buffalo, 98-68-27. … James van Riemsdyk has 19 goals in 48 career games vs. Buffalo. … Skinner has 17 goals in 47 games vs. the Flyers. … Joel Farabee, goal-less in his last 26 games, hasn’t scored since the Flyers’ 4-0 win in Buffalo on Jan. 9.