Buffalo suffers its 6th straight defeat with the 3-1 loss to Philadelphia.
By Jourdon LaBarber / Sabres.com
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Dominik Kahun scored the lone goal for the Buffalo Sabres in a 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.
The Sabres outshot the Flyers, 39-24, but saw chances stifled by Philadelphia goaltender Carter Hart throughout a 38-save performance. Claude Giroux scored twice for the Flyers, including the winning goal in the third period. Joel Farabee also scored.
Carter Hutton made 21 saves for the Sabres.
What happened
The Sabres came out firing against a Flyers team that entered the night on an eight-game winning streak. They ended the first period with a 13-4 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in 5-on-5 scoring chances (according to Natural Stat Trick) but were unable to push one past Hart.
Instead, it was Giroux who opened the scoring with 9:56 remaining in the second period. Kahun evened the score prior to the second intermission, the product of a tic-tac-toe passing play from linemates Marcus Johansson and Victor Olofsson.
Giroux scored his second with 10:32 remaining, a one-time shot from the inside edge of the right faceoff circle. Farabee added extra cushion with 5:11 left on the clock.
What it means
The Sabres managed to out-chance the NHL’s hottest team, 32-22, but their offensive cold spell continued. They have been held to two goals or fewer in each contest during their current six-game winless streak.
The drought is in part the result of a cold power play, which went unsuccessful on four opportunities – including three in the third period – to fall to 0-for-17 over the team’s last seven games.
It was the third instance during the winless streak in which the Sabres entered the third period tied. They are now 5-8-5 when tied after two periods this season.
Up next
The Sabres return home to play host to the Washington Capitals on Monday at 7 pm.