Philadelphia, Pa. (WGR 550) - Fueled by a three-goal third period, the Buffalo Sabres took care of the Flyers in enemy territory on Wednesday night in a 5-2 victory at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Flyers were the beneficiaries of a fortuitous bounce less than 60 seconds into the contest.
Forward Joel Farabee attempted to connect with Bobby Brink on a cross-ice pass, but the puck deflected off Henri Jokiharju's extended stick and floated in over the head of Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for a 1-0 Philadelphia lead.
The Sabres responded, and wasted little time evening the score at 1-1.
As they skated in on a developing 3-on-2 rush, Casey Mittelstadt and JJ Peterka played pitch-and-catch, as Mittelstadt's quick one-timer beat goalie Carter Hart just 3:38 in.
Just 6:22 later, Sabres forward Brandon Biro powered his way to the net and cashed in on his first-career goal in the NHL to give the blue and gold their first lead of the game. Biro made the most of his first call-up of the season, as he muscled a loose puck past Hart.
Following the goal-against, Hart was forced to exit the contest and did not return after suffering, what the Flyers called, a mid-body injury.
Buffalo was unable to hold their lead through the rest of the period, though. A re-direction by Flyers winger Cam Atkinson eluded Luukkonen, as the teams broke for the first intermission even at 2-2.
Neither side found twine in the middle stanza, as the Flyers continued to load the shots on Luukkonen through 40 minutes. Philadelphia registered 20 shots on goal after two periods of play to Buffalo's 11.
It wasn't until over three minutes had expired in the third period of play that another goal was scored in Philadelphia. Sabres defenseman Owen Power snapped the game's scoreless drought, and his own scoreless drought in the process with a wrist shot for his first goal of the season.
With six-and-a-half minutes left in regulation, the Sabres took the game's first multi-goal lead. It was much needed, as the Flyers dialed up the pressure after Power's go-ahead goal.
A Philadelphia clearing attempt was broken up by Alex Tuch, who found Tage Thompson hanging around in the slot for his fifth goal of the season to make it 4-2, Buffalo, late.
The blue and gold extended their lead for good measure with 3:08 to play thanks to Biro again, who cashed in on an empty-net chance for a 5-2 Sabres edge.
With the goal, Biro registered his first-career multi-goal and multi-point contest, to go along with his first-career goal from the opening period.
As for Luukkonen, he stopped all 20 shots faced in the third period, picking up his third win of the season with an impressive 38-save performance.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 3:38 - Casey Mittelstadt (3) (JJ Peterka, Jeff Skinner); 10:00 - Brandon Biro (1) (Tage Thompson, Jordan Greenway)
PHI: 0:55 - Joel Farabee (5) (Travis Sanheim); 16:17 - Cam Atkinson (6) (Travis Sanheim)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 3:03 - Owen Power (1) (Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch); 13:28 - Tage Thompson (5) (Alex Tuch); 16:52 - Brandon Biro (2) ENG (Casey Mittelstadt, Peyton Krebs)
PHI: NONE
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 3:59 - Peyton Krebs (Tripping - 2 min.)
PHI: 4:54 - Travis Sanheim (Cross-checking - 2 min.); 18:27 - Nicolas Deslauriers (Roughing - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 3:25 - Mattias Samuelsson (High sticking - 2 min.); 18:07 - Peyton Krebs (Hooking - 2 min.)
PHI: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
2.) Owen Power - BUF
3.) Cam Atkinson - PHI
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What's next:
It's back home for the Sabres for another date with the Flyers on Friday at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. ET with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. ET with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.