Buffalo Sabres Opponent Outlook: Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers and the Buffalo Sabres will always – at least in some eyes – have a rivalry. Maybe it’s not that deep-rooted old Northeast Division rivalry, or even a close-proximity rivalry like with the Leafs, but that 1975 Stanley Cup may always leave a little bit of a sour taste in Sabres fans’ mouths when it comes to the Flyers.
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The Broad Street Bullies finished last season 12th in the Eastern Conference, with 84 points and a record of 33-31-18. They went 23-11-7 at home, but struggled on the road, going 10-20-11.
They were 15 points out of a playoff spot, something they’ll certainly look to improve on this season.
Last season, the Flyers won two of three meetings against the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo’s lone win came in a shootout, 3-2.
The first meeting of the season resulted in a 4-3 win for the Flyers. R.J. Umberger, Mark Streit, Chris VandeVelde and Michael Raffl scored for the Flyers, while Rob Zepp had 24 saves. Zemgus Girgensons had a pair of goals, with Tyler Ennis notching Buffalo’s other tally.
Raffl scored again in the second meeting between the two teams, giving the Flyers the game-winning goal. Matt Read also scored, while Buffalo’s goal came from Nikita Zadorov. Ray Emery had 21 saves for the Flyers.
In the final meeting of the year, Michal Neuvirth‘s 36 saves helped lead the Sabres to the shootout win. Nicolas Deslauriers and Brian Gionta scored for the Sabres in regulation, with Flyers goals coming from Ryan White and Jakub Voracek. Brian Flynn had the game-winner in the shootout.
Captain Claude Giroux had no points against the Sabres last season.
Philly made a pair of trades in the offseason, acquiring Sam Gagner and a conditional draft pick from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nicklas Grossman and Chris Pronger‘s contract.
They also shipped forward Zac Rinaldo to the Boston Bruins, receiving a 2017 3rd-round pick in exchange.
The Flyers picked up several players in free agency this summer, including former Buffalo Sabres netminder Michal Neuvirth (who finished last season with the New York Islanders.) Chris Connor, Davis Drewiske, Jason LaBarbera, Colin McDonald and Chris Porter are all other new additions to the Flyers lineup for the coming season.
Two free agents from the Flyers signed elsewhere – both with, coincidentally, the Buffalo Sabres: Carlo Colaiacovo and Jason Akeson.
The Flyers and Sabres face each other three times this season, including twice in the month of October. They’ll visit each other at Wells Fargo Center on October 27 before meeting in Buffalo three days later, the night prior to Halloween. Their final meeting will come on February 11th in Buffalo to close out the season series.
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