In a Thursday night showdown at KeyBank Center, the Philadelphia Flyers were edged 5-3 by the Buffalo Sabres, a defeat that highlighted the Flyers’ struggling power play and a late empty‑net goal that sealed the outcome.
Game Overview
The Flyers began the game with a strong offensive burst, seeing Noah Cates, Cam York, and Travis Konecny each find the back of the net. Konecny’s 10th goal of the season pulled Philadelphia within a point of Buffalo with 5:32 left, but the team’s power play failed to convert a game‑tying opportunity. The Sabres capitalized on the Flyers’ late‑game missteps, adding two more goals to finish 5-3.
Key Moments
- Early Goals – Noah Cates, Cam York, and Travis Konecny each scored, giving the Flyers a 3-1 edge early.
- Konecny’s Late Surge – Konecny’s 10th goal cut the deficit to 4-3 with 5:32 remaining.
- Power‑Play Miss – Despite a two‑man advantage with 2:19 to play, the Flyers’ power play was unable to tie the game.
- Empty‑Net Finish – After the Flyers emptied their net, three shots were blocked before Buffalo’s final empty‑netter finished the game.
- First‑Period Recovery – Bobby Brink’s shot on Cates erased a 1-0 first‑period deficit in just 58 seconds.
- Second‑Period Tie – Tage Thompson tied the game 2-2 six seconds after a Travis Sanheim turnover, a play that could have been easier for Sean Couturier.
- Late Buffalo Lead – With 30 seconds left in the second period, Noah Ostlund’s shot gave Buffalo a 3-2 lead that the Flyers could not overcome.
- Third‑Period Insurance – Josh Norris added a power‑play goal for the Sabres midway through the third.
Power‑Play Struggles
The Flyers’ power play remains a concern, going 0‑for‑3 in this game and standing at 5‑for‑48 (10.4 %) over the last 20 games. Tyson Foerster is out for the rest of the season following arm surgery, adding to the team’s offensive challenges.
Season Context
- Record – The Flyers sit at 17‑10‑6 after this loss.
- Recent Form – They have lost four of their last six games, though they are 2‑1‑3 in that stretch and 1‑1‑1 on their current four‑game road trip.
- Series Standing – The regular‑season series against the Sabres now stands at 1‑1‑0, with the Flyers trailing 15‑14‑4.
- Future Meeting – The teams will meet again on Jan. 14 at KeyBank Center.
- Player Performance – Noah Cates’ eighth goal tied the game in the first period, and the Flyers are 15‑4‑5 when Trevor Zegras records a point.
- Trade Impact – A recent trade acquisition set up Cam York’s go‑ahead 2‑1 goal in the second period, but the Flyers failed to build on that advantage.
Next Game
The Flyers will wrap up their road trip Saturday, visiting the New York Rangers at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Key Takeaways
- Flyers lose 5-3 to Sabres, with power play failures and a late empty‑net goal deciding the game.
- The team’s record falls to 17‑10‑6; recent form shows a losing trend despite a 2‑1‑3 stretch.
- Tyson Foerster’s season‑ending arm surgery and a 0‑for‑3 power play highlight ongoing offensive struggles.
The loss underscores the Flyers’ need to address power‑play efficiency and maintain consistency as they head into the remainder of the season.
