Facing the team sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, the Philadelphia Flyers were reminded the hard way that the NHL does not offer nights off. A brief loss of focus late in the second period proved costly Thursday night, as the Buffalo Sabres surged past the Flyers for a 5-3 victory at KeyBank Center, extending Buffalo’s winning streak to four games.
For much of the night, the Flyers appeared to be in control. They dictated pace early, generated consistent pressure, and erased an opening deficit to take a 2-1 lead midway through the second period. What followed, however, was a sudden swing that flipped the game on its head.
Philadelphia’s undoing came in a matter of minutes. A turnover led directly to a tying goal, and with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period, Buffalo struck again on a seeing-eye shot that slipped through traffic and past Samuel Ersson. In the span of just over three minutes, the Flyers went from managing the game to chasing it.
The opening period told a very different story. Buffalo struck first, as Jack Quinn redirected a point shot past Ersson, but the Flyers responded almost immediately. Noah Cates finished a crisp sequence less than a minute later, burying a feed generated by pressure from Bobby Brink. The Flyers outshot the Sabres 12-4 in the first 20 minutes and controlled the neutral zone, a performance that drew praise from head coach Rick Tocchet for its directness and shot volume.
That momentum carried into the second period when Cam York gave Philadelphia the lead, firing a shot that beat former Flyer Alex Lyon. At that point, the Flyers looked poised to pull away. Instead, Buffalo capitalized on mistakes. A Travis Sanheim turnover set up Tage Thompson’s equalizer, and Noah Ostlund’s late goal sent the Sabres to the intermission with an unexpected 3-2 advantage.
The third period reflected the shift in energy. Josh Norris extended Buffalo’s lead midway through the frame, forcing the Flyers into catch-up mode. Travis Konecny answered later to pull Philadelphia within one, but sustained pressure proved elusive. With the Flyers pressing six-on-four late after pulling Ersson and drawing a penalty, Buffalo held firm before sealing the game with an empty-net goal.
The loss overshadowed an otherwise competitive effort and underscored a recurring issue for Philadelphia this season: brief lapses that swing close games. The Flyers finished strong in spurts but were unable to recover fully once Buffalo seized momentum.
Off the ice, roster movement also marked the night. Defenseman Egor Zamula was placed on waivers following the return of Rasmus Ristolainen and York from injury. Zamula, who has appeared in 168 career games with Philadelphia, has been part of the organization since signing as a free agent and made his NHL debut in 2021.
Ristolainen’s return continues to be closely managed after a lengthy absence. While the coaching staff aimed to limit his workload, he logged nearly 19 minutes earlier in the week, a sign of both his importance and the need for careful pacing as he regains full game shape.
Despite the setback in Buffalo, there were still positives within the lineup. The Flyers’ recent emphasis on balanced scoring remains evident, with adjustments across all four lines designed to spread responsibility and maintain energy. Younger players continue to gain opportunities, while veterans have been asked to adapt to evolving roles, a process Tocchet has emphasized as central to building a sustainable team culture.
The Flyers conclude their road trip with an afternoon matchup against the New York Rangers, a team that has struggled at Madison Square Garden. How Philadelphia responds will go a long way toward determining whether this loss becomes a brief stumble or a lingering concern.
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