Flyers vs. Sabres: Preview, Stats, How to Watch, Prediction

The Philadelphia Flyers will try to end a four-game home stand on a positive note Wednesday against suddenly offensive Buffalo.

The Sabres (4-5) have averaged nearly five goals per game while winning two of their last three matchups, including a 4-0 victory over talented Colorado in their last game. In that win, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2.84 GAA, .915 SP) made 26 saves for his first career shutout.

Philly (4-4) is 1-2 on the homestand, which started with a 6-2 win over Minnesota. The Flyers have dropped the last two games, falling to Anaheim, 7-4, and to Carolina, 3-2. They will use the same lineup Wednesday that faced the Hurricanes on Monday.

Carter Hart (2.30 GAA, .921 SP) will make his eighth start in 10 games.

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Both teams have struggled on the power play. The Flyers are 25th in the NHL (12% success rate) and the Sabres are 29th (11%).

Buffalo has thrived on the penalty kill (sixth, 89%), while the Flyers are 19th (76%).

Wednesday is the start of a home-and-home series; the teams will also meet Friday in Buffalo.

Danny Briere, Dan Hilferty and Keith Jones at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., where ⁦@NHLFlyers⁩ will face the ⁦@NJDevils⁩ on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/SAQFYNQYQ4

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) November 1, 2023

Big Guns

Flyers: Travis Konecny (11 points, eight goals), Cam Atkinson (five goals, right points), Sean Couturier (eight points) and defenseman Travis Sanheim (eight points) have keyed the Flyers’ attack. Defensively, Egor Zamula (plus-6) and Nick Seeler (plus-5) are the plus-minus leaders.

Sabres: Jeff Skinner (five goals, nine points), defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (nine points), Dylan Cozens (seven points), Casey Mittelstadt (seven points) and Tage Thompson (four goals, two assists) have carried the Sabres.

How to watch

The 7 p.m. game is on TNT.

Prediction

Flyers 4, Sabres 3.

Breakaways

Atkinson has eight goals in 20 career games against the Sabres. … Skinner has 36 points (18-18) in 49 career games vs. the Flyers. … Hart needs five wins to tie Roman Cechmanek and Bob Froese for the fifth-most victories in franchise history. … The Philadelphia Flyers have a lifetime record of 99-69-27 against Buffalo. A win Wednesday would make Buffalo the seventh team the Flyers have beaten 100 or more times.