Philadelphia enters tonight’s matchup coming off a workman-like victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night. The Flyers look to extend their winning streak to 5 tonight against Buffalo. Buffalo enters tonight’s matchup with the worst record in the East. The Sabres look to get a point in 5 straight with a win or an OT loss.
Flyers Lineup
Giroux – Couturier – Simmonds
Raffl – Filppula – Voracek
Weal – Patrick – Weise
Leier – Laughton – Konecny
Provorov – MacDonald
Gostisbehere – Hagg
Sanheim – Gudas
Starter – Elliott
Backup – Lyon
Scratches
15 – Lehtera
39 – Alt
1st Period Notes…
With a great 1st minute of play, the Flyers wasted it. Well, they didn’t. Their goalie did. Coming off a great stretch, Flyers goalie Brian Elliott had himself a start to the period to forget.
Just 1:29 in to the game, Elliott misplayed a puck behind the net and proceeded to give the puck right to Sabres Zemgus Girgensons, who fed Ryan O’Reilly for a wide open net goal. 1-0 Sabres.
However, Elliott would be saved the next time. Just under 3 minutes in, Elliott had the same blunder again. But this time he was bailed out by Travis Sanheim, who dove to block the sure fire goal. To reward Sanheim? Well the hockey gods gave him something he has been trying to get in the last 27 games.
Off a great poke check by Jordan Weal, the puck found Dale Weise’s stick, who proceeded to feed Sanheim in the high slot. Sanheim from there did the rest and put it by Lehner high to the stick side. Game tied at 1 and the 1st career NHL goal for Sanheim.
You never forget your first 🙃 #BUFvsPHI pic.twitter.com/gqCIHScPYy
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 15, 2017
Then, just over the half way point of the period, the Flyers got the only powerplay of the period. It went extremely well except for one thing. A GOAL. The Flyers fired 9 shots during the powerplay. However, only 4 were on goal.
The period went pretty fast after the Sabres killed the penalty. Period ends 1-1.
Scoring
18:31 Sabres Ryan O’Reilly Assisted by Zemgus Girgensons
15:58 Flyers Travis Sanheim Assisted by Dale Weise & Jordan Weal
Penalties
8:45 Sabres Kyle Okposo 2 mins Tripping
Shots
Flyers – 7
Sabres – 7
2nd Period Notes…
Flyers came out roaring to start the 2nd. They were rewarded with a powerplay just over a minute into the 2nd.
However, the powerplay wouldn’t be the greatest. After a great first shift, the Flyers never got set again in the zone. The best chance came from Buffalo after Provorov broke his stick at the point. The Sabres proceeded on a 2 v 1 where Evander Kane was stopped by Elliott. Buffalo kills it off, still 1-1.
We then had a long run of play where it was great back and forth hockey. Just over halfway through the period, Voracek and Raffl got away for a 2 v 1. However, Voracek got handcuffed by the pass but till got a nice attempt off on goal. Lehner made the save.
Voracek came inches from scoring on his breakaway try. pic.twitter.com/pgNS2ZqTyv
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 15, 2017
However, it was all Flyers and they were rewarded with the tiebreaker just under 3 minutes left in the period. Michael Raffl almost put home a rebound off the end boards to start to sequence, but it was his play to keep the puck in the zone that lead to the goal. After keeping the puck in, Raffl fed Voracek, who then fed Filppula who beat Lehner high to the back post. 2-1 Flyers.
Voracek with the great pass, Filppula with the snipe! pic.twitter.com/4t2U6Ijr26
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) December 15, 2017
And when you thought it was over, well the Flyers get caught. With just 13 seconds left in the period, Filppula got called for a penalty. Buffalo carries 1:47 of powerplay time into the 3rd. Period ends 2-1 Flyers.
Scoring
2:33 Flyers Valtteri Filppula Assisted by Jake Voracek & Michael Raffl
Penalties
18:54 Sabres Evan Rodrigues 2 mins Tripping
0:13 Flyers Valtteri Filppula 2 mins Holding
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 14 (21)
Sabres – 6 (13)
3rd Period Notes…
To start the 3rd, the Sabres had 1:47 of carry over powerplay time. The Flyers killed it off. But, Buffalo began to take over the game.
Just about a minute after the Flyers killed the powerplay off, they almost gave up a tying goal. After Travis Konecny leveled Sabres Sam Reinhart, the Flyers lost contain and Evander Kane almost made them pay. However, as it has been in the last couple of games, Brian Elliott came up big and robbed Kane. All Buffalo now.
https://twitter.com/BarstoolJordie/status/941489243892920320
Brian Elliott makes a huge save to rob a wide-open Evander Kane. pic.twitter.com/4PAlWFuXY3
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) December 15, 2017
After great pressure by the Flyers, Buffalo went up ice on an odd-man rush and almost got caught again. This time it was Sabres Marco Scandella. After Elliot made the first save, he gave up a rebound that Scandella fired wide. Clearly wasn’t the Sabres night, or season to be fact.
Scandella was inches from his first as a Sabre pic.twitter.com/xmCPmJD4Fb
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) December 15, 2017
The rest of the period it was all Sabres. But, it was really boring and the Sabres never generated anything that lead even close to a goal. They tried to get an equalizer with the goalie pulled with 2:04 left. However, had no luck.
Flyers win 2-1.
Scoring
None
Penalties
None
Shots (Total)
Flyers – 6 (27)
Sabres – 7 (20)
Result : Flyers 2 – Sabres 1, WIN
Record : 13 – 11 – 7
Next Game : 12/16 Dallas Stars, Philadelphia PA, 7:00pm
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
