Flyers snap three-game skid by sinking Sabres 5-1

Nov 3, 2023 | 6:49 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Bobby Brink had a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Scott Laughton, Louie Belpedio, Travis Konecny and Garnet Hathaway also scored, and Joel Farabee had two assists for the Flyers. Samuel Ersson made 22 saves in place of Carter Hart, who was injured against Buffalo on Wednesday and is day-to-day with a mid-body injury.

Henri Jokiharju scored and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 15 saves for the Sabres, who had their two-game win streak halted.

Laughton gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead 1:03 into the first period on a give-and-go play with Bobby Brink. Laughton snapped a wrist shot high over the glove of Luukkonen. Belpedio scored his first NHL goal 27 seconds later after a shot by Morgan Frost was blocked, giving the Flyers a 2-0 lead.

Konecny’s breakaway goal at 14:57 of the first made it 3-0. Konecny intercepted a pass by Peterka and beat Luukkonen on the glove side.

Hathaway gave the Flyers a 4-0 lead at 14:35 of the second when he tapped in a pass from Ryan Poehling.

Jokiharju spoiled the Flyers’ shutout bid at 2:23 of the third period with a wrist shot that eluded Ersson for his first goal of the season.

Brink extended the lead to four goals by scoring on a partial breakaway at 11:28.

Sabres defenceman Mattias Samuelsson left the game in the first period and did not return after sustaining a lower-body injury.

Sabres 18-year-old rookie forward Zach Benson was placed on injured reserve on Friday. Benson is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

UP NEXT

Flyers: Host Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.

Sabres: Open a two-game trip in Toronto on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Joe Yerdon, The Associated Press