The Flyers got off to a stellar start in their game versus the Buffalo Sabres on a cloudy day in South Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center taking a 2-0 lead. The Sabres couldn’t get anything going in the first period, but they found their way to tie the game in the second period. Early in the third period, the Flyers took the lead with a Shayne Gostisbehere five hole goal to give the Flyers the lead, 3-2. The Sabres then ruined the Flyers effort as they scored three unanswered goals in the final three minutes of the game to win the game 5-3.
Just 11:36 in to the opening period, the Flyers got on the board first with a great looking wrist shot by Oskar Lindlom that deflected off a Sabres skate and floated through the Sabres goaltender’s Linus Ullmark’s legs to put the Flyers up 1-0.
With 5:45 left in the first period, Sean Couturier set up a great chance to Joel Farabee, and Farabee Doug for the puck and slid the puck past Linus Ullmark while he was in traffic in the crease to put the Flyers up 2-0.
Early in the second period (3:56 to be exact), the Sabres finally got a good look on Carter Hart as Sam Reinhart wristed the puck past Hart to make it a one goal Flyer lead, 2-1 (assisted by Jeff Skinner).
Less than a minute later, the Sabres kept firing away and Arttu Ruotsalainen slapped the puck upstairs when he was on the left side of the goal to make it a tie game, 2-2. This was also his first NHL goal.
With four minutes to go in the third period, Joel Farabee made a terrific pass to Shayne Gostisbehere where he put it through the five hole to help the Flyers take a 3-2 lead.
The Sabres took control late in the third period, as the Sabres got an interesting goal where Jeff Skinner inadvertently kicked the puck in the goal to tie the game at three (assisted by Jacob Bryson and Victor Olofsson). However, the goal was reviewed and it stood.
Less than a minute later, the Sabres took the lead as Rasmus Asplund backhanded a rebound into the goal to give Buffalo their first lead at 4-3.
The Sabres added an empty net goal by Casey Mittelstadt to lock up the win for the Sabres, 5-3, and it sent the fans home miserable. Philippe Myers is not a confident defenseman right now, and that is an understatement. He was solely responsible for at least two goals, as it appears he’s afraid to make a mistake.
It was an extremely painful loss for the Flyers, especially since the Boston Bruins were crushed by the Washington Capitals last night 8-1. The Flyers could have moved within two points of the Bruins for the last playoff spot with a victory over the Sabres.
The Flyers are now 19-16-6 on the season, and are still on the outside looking in for the playoffs, “We had that game in total control. We were giving them almost nothing. We just blew it,” Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said following the game yesterday. “Two mental mistakes. When you get position at that point of the game, and letting them score two goals like that, that just can’t happen. It’s very frustrating, especially the position we are in right now in the standings. That just can’t happen.” Claude Giroux said following the game.
Claude Giroux on the fifth anniversary of Ed Snider’s passing:
“He’s Mr. Flyer. I was talking to some of the guys that have been here for a while and we just thought it was crazy how it’s been five years already. We miss him and we know he’s watching and for us to lose this game tonight, it’s not fun.”
NEXT UP: The Flyers will travel to Washington D.C to take on the red-hot 26-11-4 Capitals on Tuesday, April 13th at 7 PM EST. You can see the game on NBCSN and NBC Sports Philadelphia.
