Flyers Fight Until the End, Fall 5-4 to Sabres in Season Finale

The Philadelphia Flyers put forward a great second-half fighting effort, but it just was not enough as they fell 5-4 to the Buffalo Sabres in the season finale Thursday night.

Matvei Michkov scored twice, along with goals from Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink.

With the loss, the Flyers end their season with a 33-39-10 record and 76 points, slotting them at the No. 4 overall spot in the pre-draft lottery order.

Read More: Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Anton Frondell (PhHN+)

Sabres Get Out to a Quick 3-1 Lead

The Buffalo Sabres were very clearly the better team after the first 20 minutes.

Buffalo got on the board less than five minutes into the game after Jason Zucker snuck a pass right under Devin Kaplan’s stick, giving Alex Tuch (36) the easy goal.

The Sabres continued to look far better than the Flyers throughout the first period, even when down a man.

After Jacob Bernard-Docker got called for a delay of game, the Flyers were on the power play, but it would be the Sabres who scored first. Peyton Krebs (10) had the short-handed breakaway, then proceeded to go with the backhanded shot past the glove of Aleksei Kolosov to give the Sabres the 2-0 lead.

The Flyers would get on the board shortly after, while still on the power play, with Matvei Michkov (25) scoring the power-play goal.

While it looked as if the Flyers had scratched their way back into the game, Jack Quinn (15) continued his reign of terror over the Flyers this season, scoring his third goal in three games against Philadelphia.

The Sabres would take the 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

Sabres Score Early, Michkov Responds for the Flyers

Less than a minute-and-a-half into the second period, JJ Peterka (27) extended the Sabres’ lead to three early in the second frame.

After the way the Sabres dominated the first period, it looked as if that could have been the early dagger, but the Flyers picked up their pace. They began to up the intensity and match the energy of Buffalo, making it a much better game.

Michkov (26) responded to the early Sabres’ goal with his second of the game. His first goal gave him the team lead in goals for the season; his second gave him the most goals amongst all rookies in the NHL this season.

Each team had chances to add another score in the second period, but none would convert, and the final 20 minutes of hockey for both teams this season would begin with a 4-2 Sabres lead.

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Foerster Makes it Interesting, but the Sabres Hold On

The Flyers regained some jump in their game as the second period came to a close, and that momentum continued into the third period. Tyson Foerster (25) scored just 15 seconds into the third period, making the game much more interesting down the stretch.

For a majority of the third period, all Flyers fans–whether you wanted them to win or better their lottery position–were holding their breath.

Philly made it close. They had their chances and took their risk by emptying the net; the Flyers were just unable to complete the comeback.

Ryan McLeod (20) would hit the empty net for the Sabres, scoring the eventual game winner and giving Buffalo some breathing room.

The Flyers would continue their push, despite being down two. Looking for the hat trick, Michkov had a look with the extra attacker on the ice, but he passed up on the shot and found Bobby Brink (12) to bring the Flyers back within one, but there simply was not enough time remaining.

The game certainly was not over, and the Flyers did everything they could to even the score, but the clock would hit double zeros, and the game would end with a final score of 5-4.

What’s Next for the Flyers

Directly, I could not say what is next for the Flyers players. Maybe some golf? A vacation or two? Heck, maybe some will head down the shore.

Jokes aside, with the season coming to a close, the organization’s pivotal offseason begins. The Flyers will name a new head coach, make some additions to the team, and use seven picks in the first two rounds of the draft, in one way or another.

While the season may have come to an end, the excitement of the offseason is just beginning.

Read More: Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: James Hagens

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