National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Philadelphia 4, Buffalo 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 17, 2015
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Mike Leggo, Steve Kozari
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Matt MacPherson
Attendance: 19070

Flyers 4, Sabres 3: Chris VandeVelde scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway near the six-minute mark of the third period as visiting Philadelphia sent Buffalo to its franchise record-tying 10th consecutive defeat.

R.J. Umberger and defenseman Mark Streit scored second-period power-play goals and Michael Raffl tallied in the third as the Flyers rebounded from back-to-back shutout losses to beat the Sabres for the ninth time in 11 meetings. League leading scorer Jakub Voracek and captain Claude Giroux each picked up an assist while Rob Zepp turned aside 24 shots.

Zemgus Girgensons scored a pair of goals and Tyler Ennis also tallied for the Sabres, who managed more than two goals for the first time during the 0-10-0 skid. Matt Moulson and Chris Stewart collected two assists apiece while Michal Neuvirth made 28 saves in losing his eighth consecutive start.

Buffalo won a faceoff late in the first period and Girgensons ripped a one-timer from the high slot that appeared to catch Zepp by surprise, but the Flyers responded with a pair of man-advantage goals in the second. Umberger tied it on a redirect of Matt Read's shot at 3:51 before Streit buried a slap shot off a behind-the-back pass from Giroux 3:58 later.

The Sabres drew even with only 55 seconds left in the session as Moulson corralled the rebound of defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen's slapper and slid a pass in front to Ennis, who lifted a backhander over a prone Zepp. VandeVelde put Philadelphia ahead, breaking in alone and losing control of the puck, only to see it slide past Neuvirth, and Raffl's tally at 8:39 helped the Flyers withstand Girgenson's power-play goal with 69 seconds left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Girgensons halted his eight-game goalless drought and also ended a 10-game stretch during which Buffalo yielded the first goal. ... Umberger's tally snapped Philadelphia's scoreless drought at 168:49 - the fourth-longest stretch in franchise history. ... Ennis ended a seven-game stretch without a goal and scored for the second time in 18 contests.
Top Game Performances
 
Philadelphia   Buffalo
Michael Del Zotto 2 Points Zemgus Girgensons 2
Michael Raffl 1 Goals Zemgus Girgensons 2
Michael Del Zotto 2 Assists Matt Moulson 2
Mark Streit 1 Power Play Goals Zemgus Girgensons 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Rob Zepp .889 Save Percentage Michal Neuvirth .875
Rob Zepp 24 Saves Michal Neuvirth 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Philadelphia 32 4 2-3 2-3 8 34
Buffalo 27 3 1-3 1-3 8 38
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Detroit. The Sabres have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .219 after a loss.
  • Philadelphia will play their next game on the road against NY Islanders. The Flyers have a W/L % of .471 after a win and .345 after a loss.