Cole Knuble scored twice, Oliver Bonk registered two assists, and Dan Vladař made 27 saves as the Philadelphia Flyers have now won three straight games after losing their first nine contests to start the season.
Give the Buffalo Sabres credit as they generated a ton of dangerous scoring chances but couldn’t solve Vladař, who made 15 saves in the first period to preserve the Flyers’ 2-goal lead at the time.
Trevor Zegras scored the other goal, Matvei Michkov registered a helper, Jamie Drysdale earned his first point of the season, and Denver Barkey helped on Knuble’s first goal as the Flyers now turn their attention to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.
FIRST PERIOD
Despite the several dangerous chances created by the Buffalo Sabres, it was the Philadelphia Flyers who opened the scoring courtesy of Cole Knuble’s first career NHL tally at the 14:49 mark.
The rookie started the play by driving into the zone, Denver Barkey then retrieved the loose puck and passed it off to Oliver Bonk, who wired a one-time blast before Knuble cleaned up the rebound past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
After Noah Östlund disrupted a Sabres power play due to a slashing minor, the Flyers ended up scoring on the abbreviated power play after Trevor Zegras batted down a rebound with just 43 seconds left. Jamie Drysdale found Matvei Michkov along the boards before the Russian forward walked in and fired a shot that was stopped, but the rebound jumped in the air for Zegras to bat down.
With a 2-goal lead heading into the intermission, things could’ve been completely different had it not been for goaltender Dan Vladař as he made several ten-bell stops against some of the Sabres’ best players like Jack Quinn and Tage Thompson. The Czechia native made 15 saves and was the only reason the Sabres didn’t score a goal or two to open the game.
SECOND PERIOD
The Sabres came out of the intermission with a ton of gumption but Vladař – and the post – stood tall to thwart any opportunities that came his way, including chances from Quinn, Thompson, and Zach Benson.
The Flyers eventually steered the ship and were given a golden opportunity to add to their lead with a 5-on-3 for 73 seconds with 4:28 remaining in the period. They set up immediately, passed the puck around well, fired a few shots but not many made it through, as the Sabres survived.
Right after the kill, the Sabres had an opportunity to turn the tides in their favour as they jumped on a power play after a Travis Sanheim high-sticking minor. After some persistent pressure, the Sabres finally cracked Vladař with Jason Zucker finishing off a terrific pass from Quinn in the crease at the 19:26 mark.
The period came to a close with the Sabres taking some much needed momentum into the intermission. They were up 22-19 on the shot clock but down in the game 2-1, mostly because of Vladař’s efforts.
THIRD PERIOD
Knuble gave the Flyers some much needed breathing room, scoring his second goal of the night just 3:03 into the third period after another set up from Bonk. The Flyers won a puck battle in the offensive zone, Bonk jumped onto a loose puck and found Knuble streaking towards the net before the 22-year-old slipped it off Luukkonen’s skate and in.
With 4:47 remaining in regulation, Mattias Samuelsson dropped the glovers with Hunter McDonald after the latter laid out a massive open-ice check on Ryan McLeod. The Flyers got a power play out of it with Samuelsson being assessed a minor for instigating.
With the net empty, Vladař continued his dominance over the Sabres’ top players as he robbed Quinn and Thompson to preserve the 2-goal lead and allowed the Flyers to leave Buffalo victorious for the third straight game.
UP NEXT
The Flyers will host Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and the Anaheim Ducks at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday (1:00pm ET).
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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