Flyers Fall 5-2 to Sabres in Disastrous Wednesday Night Matchup

The Philadelphia Flyers (22-15-8) needed a win desperately on Wednesday night, and could not find one vs. the Buffalo Sabres (25-16-4), losing 5-2 in a disastrous night at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

Owen Tippett and Trevor Zegras scored for the Flyers. Rasmus Dahlin scored twice, along with Mattias Samuelsson, Jack Quinn, and Ryan McLeod for the Sabres.

The Flyers already started the game with a change on defense, with Rasmus Ristolainen being a late scratch, coming out of the lineup before warmups. Dan Vladar left the game after the first period with an injury, with his team already trailing by two, and the Flyers could not get back within striking distance before the Sabres put it away.

Here is how we got to the final score.

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Ideal start for the Sabres, not so much for the Flyers

Have you ever seen a goalie get called for a hooking penalty? Well, it happened on Wednesday night. Early in the contest, Sabres’ goaltender Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen got called for hooking on Christian Dvorak, which led to the Flyers getting the first power play of the game.

The current trend continued, and the Flyers came up short on the power play. A little later, Owen Tippett set up a perfect opportunity for Nikita Grebenkin, but Lukkonen spoiled the chance – not much the Flyers could have done.

Buffalo was getting pressured by Philadelphia early, but it was the Sabres who struck first.

Following a Cam York cross-checking penalty, the Sabres were on the power play, and Rasmus Dahlin did not miss. The Sabres made Dan Vladar start to work, but after a flurry of shots, Dahlin (5) eventually put one past the Flyers’ netminder, assisted by Josh Doah (17) and Tage Thompson (21).

Doan’s hard work did not stop there. The first-year Sabre made a hard back-checking play, springing rush. Mattias Samuelsson (8) buried the goal on the team’s third shot of the game, assisted by Noah Ostlund (6) and Doan (18).

It could have been a bigger lead for the Sabres, who hit two posts. But the Flyers avoid the disastrous first period and escape only trailing by two.

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Flyers did not actually avoid disaster

While it looked like the Flyers had avoided disaster in the first period, it became clear they had not once the second period began.

Sam Ersson took over in goal for the Flyers, with Dan Vladar leaving the game due to injury.

It took the Sabres just under five minutes to continue building their lead.

Ersson made the initial save on the Zach Benson (16) shot, but the puck was then carried behind the net. All eyes were on Ryan McLeod (19) behind the goal line, leaving Jack Quinn (10) wide open for the Sabres’ third goal of the game.

The Flyers had their chances all game, and finally got one to go. Owen Tippett deflected a Buffalo neutral zone pass, which was received by Noah Cates (15), who found Tippett (15) streaking down the ice, and put Philadelphia on the board, making it 3-1.

The score felt manageable for the Flyers, but it did not last long.

On the Sabres’ second power play of the game, Dahlin (6) ripped one from the high slot, scoring his second power-play goal of the game, making it a 4-1 game. His second goal of the game was assisted by Josh Norris (11) and Thompson (22).

So, the Flyers went into the second break without their starting netminder, now trailing by three.

Zegras gets on the board, but it is not enough

The Flyers needed a goal, and after a penalty-riddled third period, they got one.

Trevor Zegras (18) potted the power-play goal off of his skate, cashing in on a great pass from Konecny (25), and Owen Tippett (13) earned the secondary assist for the multi-point night.

It was a 4-2 game, and the Flyers had life.

Noah Juulsen had a great look just under the 10-minute mark, but rang the post and got the unlucky bounce.

The Flyers had a late chance with 6v4 after a late Bowen Byram holding penalty. They had a number of good looks, but eventually, Ryan McLeod (10) nailed the empty net, bringing the game to the 5-2 final score.

What’s next

The Flyers’ short road trip continues on Thursday when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena at 7:00 p.m. EST.

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