Flyers at Sabres: Philly Trying to End Skid, How to Watch, Prediction

The shorthanded Philadelphia Flyers will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they have a rematch with the Sabres on Friday in Buffalo

Without goaltender Carter Hart, that won’t be easy.

Hart will miss time with an undisclosed mid-body injury. The Flyers (4-5-1) say he is day to day.

The 25-year-old goaltender was injured midway through the first period of an eventual 5-2 loss Wednesday to the visiting Sabres (5-5). He was relieved by Sam Ersson (seven saves on nine shots), who is expected to get his third start of the season Friday.

Playing more frequently should help Ersson (.4.91 GAA, .763 SP) get into a rhythm.

“I’m sure with more ice time for him, (and) more game action is going to help,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “We’re not worried at all with Sam in the net.”

The Philadelphia Flyers outshot the Sabres by a 40-15 count Wednesday but were beaten by goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkoken. He stopped 38 shots, and the Flyers’ first goal was a shot by Joel Farabee that deflected off a Buffalo defenseman and past Luukkoken. The Finnish goalie had no chance.

Who’s Hot?

Flyers: Travis Konecny (five goals in last six games) and Cam Atkinson (five goals in last seven games) have been sizzling for the Orange and Black. Sanheim (10 points in 10 games) has emerged as one of the league’s leading scorers among defensemen.

Sabres: Tage Thompson has four goals in his last five games., and Alex Tuch has six points (goal, five assists) in his last four games. Luukkoken has stopped 64 of 66 shots over the last two games.

How to Watch

The 7 p.m. game will be shown on NBC Sports Philadelphia and the NHL Network.

Prediction

Sabres 4, Flyers 3.

Breakaways

Sean Couturier will miss the game and is a day to day with a lower-body injury. … The Flyers recalled goalie Cal Petersen, 29, from Lehigh Valley, where he had a 3.76 GAA and .884 save percentage in four AHL games this season. … Buffalo’s penalty kill is fifth in the NHL, successfully killing 90% of its penalties. … The Sabres have won two straight. … Both teams are averaging 3.20 goals per game. The Flyers are allowing 3.30 goals per game, while the Sabres are surrendering 2.90. … Philly will face Los Angeles on Saturday, which is Military Night at the Wells Fargo Center. The Friday and Saturday games mark the first of 12 back-to-back contests for the Flyers this season.

PHN: For Flyers, Time for Sam Ersson to Step Up