Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - The Buffalo Sabres are on a four-game winning streak thanks to a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night at KeyBank Center.
Despite a slow start, the Sabres were able to score first and open up a 1-0 lead nearly eight minutes into the game.
The goal was set up by Mattias Samuelsson, who fed winger Jack Quinn right to the left of goalie Samuel Ersson at the top of his crease. Quinn's seventh of the season was also helped out by Zach Benson, who got the secondary assist.
The Flyers answered less than a minute later to tie the game at 1-1. Noah Cates was able to split Buffalo's defense and beat Alex Lyon with a shot from the slot.
Bobby Brink recorded the lone assist on the goal.
Philadelphia was able to kill off a penalty midway through the second period, and proceeded to score shortly after for a 2-1 lead midway through the game.
After the Flyers got the Sabres chasing them around in the Buffalo end, defenseman Cam York came in from the blue line and scored his second goal of the season. Trevor Zegras and Brink assisted on the Flyers' second goal of the game.
Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson combined on Buffalo's second goal of the game to tie the game at 2-2. Dahlin was able to create a turnover on the half-wall and dropped a beautiful between-the-legs pass back to Thompson.
Thompson has scored in five-straight games, helping give the forward 17 goals on the season.
Dahlin was credited with the only assist on the game-tying goal.
The Sabres were able to re-take the lead with under a minute remaining in the second period when Noah Ostlund scored his fifth goal of the season.
The score came with 30 seconds remaining in the period to give Buffalo a one-goal lead heading to the final frame.
Owen Power and Alex Tuch assisted on the go-ahead goal.
The Sabres used a power play goal midway through the third period to double their lead to 4-2.
Zach Benson was able to come up with a loose puck off a board battle, and then made the pass to Josh Norris all by himself in front of the Flyers net. His goal was the third goal of the season.
Norris has been a key contributor to Buffalo's offense since returning from an upper-body injury.
However, the Flyers had an answer at even strength minutes later to narrow Buffalo's lead back to one goal. Travis Koneckny's 10th goal of the year made the score 4-3 with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.
Ryan McLeod was able to score an empty-net goal with just seconds remaining to help secure the two-goal victory for Buffalo.
After Samuelsson came out of the penalty box for serving a delay of game penalty, his effort allowed McLeod to receive the puck and score his sixth goal of the year.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 7:40 - Jack Quinn (7) (Mattias Samuelsson, Zach Benson)
PHI: 8:38 - Noah Cates (8) (Bobby Brink)
Second Period:
BUF: 16:54 - Tage Thompson (17) (Rasmus Dahlin); 19:30 - Noah Ostlund (5) (Owen Power, Alex Tuch)
PHI: 11:01 - Cam York (2) (Trevor Zegras, Bobby Brink)
Third Period:
BUF: 10:20 - Josh Norris (3) PPG (Zach Benson)
PHI: 14:28 - Travis Konecky (10) (Jamie Drysdale, Emil Andrae)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Zach Benson - BUF
2.) Tage Thompsn - BUF
3.) Alex Lyon - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres remain at home to welcome the New York Islanders for a 5 p.m. puck drop on Saturday afternoon. Pregame coverage on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - begins at 4 p.m. with Brian Koziol.