A three-game road trip ended unceremoniously for the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night in a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers inside Wells Fargo Center.
The home side opened the scoring late in the first period on a powerplay. Philadelphia defenseman Cam York fed Owen Tippett by the right-wing circle, and the winger whipped a wrist shot past Craig Anderson for the 1-0 Flyers advantage.
The Flyers took their lead and quadrupled it in the middle stanza as they completely dominated the Sabres in the second period of play. Philadelphia got their three second-period goals from forwards Joel Farabee, Tippett again, and James van Riemsdyk.
Victor Olofsson then netted two powerplay goals in the third period, sandwiched around Tippett's first-career hat-trick. It was a disappointing night and a missed opportunity for the blue and gold to gain necessary ground in the Wild Card hunt. The Washington Capitals lost in regulation, and the Florida Panthers and New York Islanders were idle.
GAME SUMMARY:
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: 15:10 - Owen Tippett (19) PPG (Cam York, Tony DeAngelo)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: 3:53 - Joel Farabee (10) (Tyson Foerster, Kevin Hayes); 13:14 - Owen Tippett (20) (Kevin Hayes, Ivan Provorov); 18:21 - James van Riemsdyk (10) (Scott Laughton)
Third Period:
BUF: 2:27 - Victor Olofsson (25) PPG (Owen Power, Casey Mittelstadt); 19:59 - Victor Olofsson (26) PPG (Zemgus Girgensons, Casey Mittelstadt)
PHI: 5:33 - Owen Tippett (21) (Nick Seeler, Tony DeAngelo)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 14:24 - Jeff Skinner (Interference - 2 min.)
PHI: 7:37 - Nicolas Deslauriers (Cross-checking - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 19:09 - Peyton Krebs (Roughing - 2 min.); 19:09 - Kyle Okposo (Roughing - 2 min.)
PHI: 19:09 - Nick Seeler (Roughing - 2 min.); 19:09 - Wade Allison (Roughing - 2 min.); 19:09 - Nicolas Deslauriers (Misconduct - 10 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
PHI: 0:39 - Scott Laughton (Hooking - 2 min.); 17:54 - Ivan Provorov (Cross-checking - 2 min.); 19:43 - Nick Seeler (High-sticking - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Owen Tippett - PHI
2.) Kevin Hayes - PHI
3.) Tony DeAngelo - PHI
What's Next:
The blue and gold come back to Buffalo to host the NHL's-best Boston Bruins on Sunday, March 19. Puck drop inside KeyBank Center is set for 1 p.m. ET, and the pregame show with Brian Koziol starts at 12 p.m. ET on the flagship home of the Buffalo Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.