Flyers edge Sabres to get point in ninth straight game
The Philadelphia Flyers are playing their way back into playoff contention.
Michael Raffl and Matt Read scored for the Flyers in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Coming off consecutive overtime losses, Philadelphia (24-22-10) extended its point streak to nine games and moved within five points of Boston for the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference.
''We've got to keep getting points,'' Flyers coach Craig Berube said. ''Claw our way back into the playoffs.''
Raffl, who missed the previous seven games with pneumonia, scored the winner on a wraparound with 7:15 left in the third period after Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth lost track of the puck behind the net.
''It's obviously nice to come back with a goal and a win,'' Raffl said. ''It feels special.''
Neuvirth said he took his eye off the puck before losing control.
''It was a quick play around the net,'' he said. ''I'd definitely like that one back.''
Ray Emery made 21 saves as the Flyers closed out a four-game road trip.
''We let a couple points slide in overtime the last few games, but with the win tonight, it's a pretty good road trip for us,'' Emery said. ''We got it done when we needed to in the third and now we've got to move on `cause we need points in almost every game coming up here.''
Playing for the first time since trading for defenseman Zach Bogosian and forward Evander Kane on Wednesday, the Sabres got a goal from defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Bogosian started on the blue line in place of Josh Gorges, who was rested, and was selected the game's second star.
''He's exactly what we ordered,'' Buffalo coach Ted Nolan said.
Neuvirth made 28 saves in his 20th start of the season, but first since the Sabres traded away goalie Jhonas Enroth. Neuvirth made 14 saves in the first period.
''He played well, especially in the first period,'' Nolan said. ''He really kept us in the game.''
Buffalo (16-37-3) lost its fourth straight and has the fewest points (35) in the NHL.
The Flyers opened an early lead when Read skated into the slot and redirected Wayne Simmonds' wrist shot from the point past Neuvirth 3:19 into the first period.
Philadelphia took two penalties on the same play midway through the second period, setting up the Sabres for a 5-on-3 opportunity. The Flyers' Chris VandeVelde managed to get a breakaway before Zadorov's slap shot with 28 seconds left on the power play tied the game at 1.
After having a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal in the first period, the Flyers were outshot 15-5 in the second. The shots were even in the third.
NOTES: The Sabres held a moment of silence before the game to honor former defenseman Steve Montador, who died Sunday at age 35. Montador played two of his 10 NHL seasons in Buffalo. ... Flyers D Braydon Coburn (foot) played for the first time since Jan. 12. ... Sabres F Johan Larsson, recalled Sunday from Rochester of the AHL, played his third game in three nights. ... The Flyers host Columbus on Tuesday while the Sabres are at New Jersey. The teams meet again Thursday in Philadelphia. ... The last time Philadelphia had a nine-game point streak was March 8-26, 2011.
