Suddenly, the Philadelphia Flyers (2-6-3) strung together consecutive wins.
It started by removing the weight off their backs against the Ottawa Senators, 3-1. Then, the Flyers pulled off an upset against the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2.
Philadelphia looked their best against the Avalanche. They didn’t start flat against Colorado, who developed a reputation for scoring early in the first period. Instead, the Flyers made their power play count. Matvei Michkov was the star of the show; not Nathan MacKinnon.
Then, there was Joseph Woll. He secured his first win with Philadelphia. His heroics matched a superb team effort. A handful of Lehigh Valley Phantoms recalls, including Cole Knuble, Alex Bump, Jacob Gaucher, and Hunter McDonald, filled the roles that Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny, and Cam York would normally assume. The Flyers lacked confidence, urgency, and tenacity in the first ten games of the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season, and you wouldn’t believe it after these last two games.
Tonight, Philadelphia visits the KeyBank Center to take on the Buffalo Sabres (4-3-2). It’ll be the first clash between these two franchises in the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season. This time, it’s the Flyers who carry momentum into tonight’s battle.
Tale of the Tape
- Power Play
- Philadelphia Flyers: 12.9%
- Buffalo Sabres: 9.1%
- Penalty Kill
- Philadelphia Flyers: 84.5%
- Buffalo Sabres: 64.5%
- Faceoff Efficiency
- Philadelphia Flyers: 51.5%FO
- Buffalo Sabres: 46.2%FO
- Goals For/Games Played
- Philadelphia Flyers: 1.55
- Buffalo Sabres: 3
- Goals Against/Games Played
- Philadelphia Flyers: 3.18
- Buffalo Sabres: 3.67
Injury Report: Philadelphia Flyers
- Nikita Grebenkin (back; month-to-month)
- Cam York (upper-body; day-to-day)
- Owen Tippett (upper-body; day-to-day)
- Rasmus Ristolainen (upper-body; day-to-day)
- Travis Konecny (lower-body; day-to-day)
- Tyson Foerster (hand; day-to-day)
Injury Report: Buffalo Sabres
- Alex Lyon (upper-body; day-to-day)
- Conor Timmins (lower-body; day-to-day)
- Matt Grzelcyk (lower-body; day-to-day)
- Jack Rathbone (undisclosed; day-to-day)
- Justin Danforth (upper-body; day-to-day)
- Sam Carrick (upper-body; day-to-day)
Where: KeyBank Center; Buffalo, NY
When: 7:30pm/ET
Watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max
Last Game PHI: 10/19/2026; vs. Colorado Avalanche; 3-2 W
Last Game BUF: 10/17/2026; at Montréal Canadiens; 4-3 OTL
Philadelphia Flyers
Dan Vladař (1-3-1; 3.58GAA; 88.9%SV) is the probable starter. He secured the first victory of the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season for Philadelphia. Last season, Vladař exited his only start against the Sabres with a lower-body injury.
Trevor Zegras (2G, 5A, -3, 10PIM, 20SOG, 6BLK, 4HIT, 18:27ATOI) has a goal and a few assists in these consecutive Flyers wins. Zegras is more engaged than he was at the beginning of the season, and could stretch into a point-streak tonight.
Jamie Drysdale (-4, 4PIM, 15SOG, 21BLK, 6HIT, 22:08ATOI) factors into how closely Philadelphia plays opponents. When he’s winning matchups, puttings shots on goal, and helping suppress shots, the defense typically rallies to help their goaltending. That’s the bread and butter to winning hockey under Rick Tocchet. Drysdale has played well in these last two games, but this trend dates back to the close shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken. He’s been consistently solid over the last four games, looking to carry that momentum into tonight.
Buffalo Sabres
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (3-2-2; 3.59GAA; 86%SV) is the probable starter. He suffered the overtime loss to the Montréal Canadiens. Last season, Luukkonen went 1-0-0 against the Flyers, recording his win in the same game where Vladař exited with a lower-body injury.
Zach Benson (6A, +4, 8PIM, 18SOG, 5BLK, 13HIT, 19:52ATOI) is receiving a significant uptick in minutes this season. He’s playing around 4:00-5:00 more each night, and Buffalo is benefiting. Benson exploded on a four-game point streak. On home ice, he’s looking for his first goal of the season to add to his collection of assists.
Olen Zellweger (2G, 1A, 6PIM, 21SOG, 4BLK, 2HIT, 19:43ATOI) is an expected shot from the blue line. He’s recorded 20 shots in his last four games, alternating at six and four shots per game. There is a weak spot for Philadelphia if they lose faceoffs in the defensive zone. Zellweger doesn’t appear on any of the power play units for the Sabres; however, he could still uncork a shot on goal after a faceoff at even-strength.
Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers
Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Noel Acciari
Porter Martone – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Jacob Gaucher – Sean Couturier – Michael Bunting
Alex Bump – Denver Barkey – Cole Knuble
Travis Sanheim – Oliver Bonk
Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale
Hunter McDonald – David Jiříček
Dan Vladař
(Joseph Woll)
Projected Lineup: Buffalo Sabres
Josh Doan – Jiri Kulich – Tage Thompson
Zach Benson – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn
Jason Zucker – Josh Norris – Konsta Helenius
Peyton Krebs – Ryan McLeod – Beck Malenstyn
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Olen Zellweger – Owen Power
Zach Metsa – Louis Crevier
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
(Colten Ellis)
FLYERS ALUMNI VEGAS AND IRELAND TRIPS
Flyers Nation and TrueFan Travel have teamed up for two trips with the Flyers Alumni!
The Las Vegas package (March 10–14) includes tickets to Flyers–Golden Knights on March 11 at T-Mobile Arena, an all-inclusive tailgate, optional flights from Philadelphia, a 4-night downtown hotel stay, an alumni pep rally and Q&A, a Flyers vs. Utah watch party, and a meet and greet.
The Ireland Golf & Tour Experience (July 20–27) includes optional flights from Philadelphia, six nights at The Brehon Killarney and Portmarnock Resort, a welcome reception, a meet and greet and Q&A with Brad Marsh, Patrick Sharp, Joe Watson, Bill Clement, Mark Recchi, and John LeClair, a live Coatesy’s Corner, and optional golf at Old Head, Dooks, Portmarnock, and Druids Glen.
Whether you’re chasing a road game in Vegas or a week on the links in Ireland, these are two chances to travel with Flyers legends!
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