The winless streak for the Buffalo Sabres hit an incredible 18th-straight game as the visiting Philadelphia Flyers poured in four unanswered goals from the third period on, including the overtime game-winner to shock the blue and goal inside KeyBank Center. The visitors emerged victorious by a final score of 4-3.
For the second-straight game, the Sabres grabbed the opening goal. With 2:19 to play in the first period, Kyle Okposo and Curtis Lazar did some good work on the boards before Lazar found Henri Jokiharju all alone. The defenseman was allowed to skate right down the slot untouched, as he got lost in coverage as focus was on the board battle. Jokiharju beat goalie Brian Elliott with a shot through the five-hole for the 1-0 Buffalo advantage.
The Sabres doubled their lead to 2-0 early in the middle stanza when Cody Eakin ripped a wrist shot past the glove-hand of Elliott. It was Eakin's second goal of the season and first since February 23 against the New Jersey Devils.
The lead swelled to 3-0 in the second when Brandon Montour was the recipient of a sweet pass from Tage Thompson.
It was Montour's second goal of the campaign as the interesting trend continued. To this point, all three Buffalo goals were the respective goal-scorer's second goal of 2020-21.
The Flyers busted up Linus Ullmark's shutout bid just 1:50 into the third period of play. It was forward Kevin Hayes getting a puck behind the Sabres netminder to slice the Buffalo lead to two, at 3-1.
With 9:09 to play in regulation, Philadelphia upped the ante and applied more pressure. Their second goal of the third period, courtesy of captain Claude Giroux, shrunk the Buffalo lead to just 3-2.
The Flyers clawed all the way back even with just 1:29 play. Forward Sean Couturier got credit for a goal following a net-front scramble in front of Ullmark, as the Sabres officially squandered a three-goal, third period lead. The game headed to overtime.
The extra frame lasted just 42 seconds, as defenseman Ivan Provorov dropped the curtain on what might be considered the most deflating loss of the now-18-game winless streak. Buffalo allowed four unanswered goals from the third period on to fall to 6-23-5 on the season.
GAME SUMMARY
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 17:41 - Henri Jokiharju (2) (Curtis Lazar, Kyle Okposo)
PHI: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 2:10 - Cody Eakin (2) (Tobias Rieder, Riley Sheahan); 12:43 - Brandon Montour (2) (Tage Thompson, Taylor Hall)
PHI: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: 1:50 - Kevin Hayes (11) (Travis Sanheim); 10:51 - Claude Giroux (9) (Sean Couturier, Jakub Voracek); 18:31 - Sean Couturier (10) (Ivan Provorov, Claude Giroux)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
PHI: 0:42 - Ivan Provorov (5) (Travis Konecny)
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: 3:56 - Nicolas Aube-Kubel (Hooking - 2 min.); 19:50 - Scott Laughton (Delay of game, puck over glass - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 8:37 - Brandon Montour (Tripping - 2 min.); 12:16 - Rasmus Ristolainen (Cross-checking - 2 min.)
PHI: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
PHI: NONE
Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Sean Couturier - PHI
2.) Claude Giroux - PHI
3.) Ivan Provorov - PHI
What's Next:
The blue and gold play host to these same Flyers on Wednesday night in Buffalo. Puck drop inside KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. EST, and the Paul William Beltz Pregame Show with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starts at 6 p.m. EST on the radio home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
