Philadelphia Flyers
Numerous playoff series prompted me to pick the Flyers as the Buffalo Sabres fifth biggest rival. It started in the 1975 Stanley Cup Final, with the Flyers taking it from the Sabres in six games. The two teams have met in the playoffs nine times, with the Flyers holding a dramatic advantage record-wise.
Of course, when you think of heated rivalries involving the Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins come to mind. But NHL.com reminded hockey fans everywhere regarding the brutality of the dozens of contests that have taken place between the Sabres and Flyers.
One reason this rivalry isn’t as prevalent as the others on this list, however, is the fact that it comes in waves, before a trough envelopes. Following the 1974-75 season, the rivalry had its moments, but remained rather dormant before it erupted once more between 1997 and 2001.
After another few years of dormancy, another series of heated matchups ensued between 2005 and 2011. The Rasmus Ristolainen trade could even spark a fourth wave between the two teams, given the way the Sabres grew while the Flyers faltered over the 2021-22 season. And it can even grow more bitter if Isak Rosen becomes a viable NHL player.
Overall, the five rivalries listed above, plus the infamous honorable mention in the first part of this article, are among the fiercest in Buffalo Sabres history. And while new rivalries will spring up, look for continued animosity between the Sabres and those historic opponents mentioned in these slides.
Article Source: Rival in Focus: Buffalo Sabres by Bill Meltzer