Full disclosure: This article was started when the Buffalo Sabres held a 3-0 lead at the beginning of the third period. The title was edited a few different times, and in the end, a lot of what was written was changed to reflect what happened to the Sabres in their 4-3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center on Monday night.
Carrying the lead into the third period, the Sabres couldn't hold off the Flyers from coming back and tying it up with a minute-and-a-half to go.
While the Sabres did end their nine-game losing streak, they still carry an 18-game winless streak.
Let's take a look at three observations from Monday night's game:
1.) Sabres start strong on the scoresheet
The Sabres put together, what might have been, their strongest play through 40 minutes of this entire stretch.
Henri Jokiharju opened the scoring in this one, as Curtis Lazar found the puck along the boards after a battle on the boards between Kyle Okposo and a few Flyers circled around him. Lazar flung the puck over to Jokiharju, who found an opening in Flyers goalie Brian Elliott's five-hole.
The Sabres doubled up their lead on a goal from Cody Eakin in the second, and added a bit more insurance with a goal from Brandon Montour to give Buffalo a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Sabres had six high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 through two periods, with the Flyers only having two, according to Natural Stat Trick. Through two periods, the Sabres were the leaders in 5-on-5 expected goals, too. Typically, leading a game on the scoreboard, as well as in the expected category, is a good sign.
The Flyers took a few more shot attempts in the second period than Buffalo did. The Flyers and the Sabres were relatively even in the third period, but the Sabres suffered some defensive lapses that resulted in four unanswered Philadelphia goals.
2.) Defensive gaffs allow Flyers back into the game
Kevin Hayes opened the scoring for the Flyers just 1:50 into the final period. Hayes took a pass from Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim, had plenty of space in the slot to receive the pass and fired it by Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark. Rasmus Dahlin tried to block the shot, but only ended up deflecting the puck and helping it find the net.
From there, things only got worse on the defensive side for Buffalo.
On the Flyers' second goal, forward Jakub Voracek went to retrieve a dump in being handled by Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Ristolainen lost a board battle with Voracek he shouldn't have lost, and Voracek skipped a pass in front to a wide-open Sean Couturier, who found captain Claude Giroux driving the net.
By the time the Flyers scored their third goal, you could see what was coming for Buffalo. The Sabres had just killed off a cross-checking penalty taken by Ristolainen, but Buffalo couldn't hold off the Flyers with the extra attacker.
Philadelphia got the puck to the point for defensman Ivan Provorov to take a screen shot that was definitely tipped by Couturier.
It would only take 42 seconds into overtime for the Flyers to end things on a goal from Ivan Provorov to complete the comeback.
3.) Power play held off the scoresheet again
The Sabres' power play continues to let them down.
For the 16th time in the last 17 games, the Sabres went scoreless with the man advantage. The Sabres have scored at a rate of just one of their last 33 chances on the power play.
Since having the top unit as of Feb. 25, Buffalo's fallen down the ladder of power play success, now sitting in 13th place with a 22.7% conversion rate.
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Buffalo will get another chance to stop the skid against the Flyers on Wednesday night, as these two teams will get together once again at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
We'll have full coverage of Wednesday's matchup starting at 6:30 p.m. ET with the Paul William Beltz Pregame Show hosted by Schopp and the Bulldog. They'll take you through the hour leading you up to a 7:30 p.m. ET puck drop in downtown Buffalo. You can hear all of the play-by-play action on the radio flagship station of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
