GAME NOTES
METRO & WILD CARD RACE
M1 - WSH: 87 pts - 15 games left
M2 - PHI: 87 pts - 15 games left
M3 - PIT: 84 pts - 16 games left / 1 vs Flyers
WC1 - CBJ: 79 pts - 14 games left
WC2 - NYI: 78 pts - 16 games left / 1 vs Flyers
NYR: 76 pts - 15 games left / 1 vs Flyers
CAR: 75 pts - 17 games left
FLA: 74 pts - 15 games left
QUICK STATS
Season Series: 1-0-0
All-Time Record: 180gp (91-62-20-7)
Leading Scorer:
PHI - Travis Konecny: 61-pts (24g-37a)
BUF - Jack Eichel: 77-pts (35g-42a)
1. SATURDAY NIGHT
The Flyers enter tonight on an eight-game winning streak, which is the longest active streak in the NHL, and has vaulted them from the second wildcard position before the streak to now in a tie for first place in the Metro with Washington... The Flyers could take over first place in the Metro with a win and a loss of any kind from Washington (who plays at Pittsburgh at 1 pm) OR a loss in overtime/shootout and a regulation loss from the Capitals... A win tonight would also be the longest streak since a 10-games in 2016-17 and just seventh time in franchise history the Flyers have recorded at least nine straight wins, including just the second time they have done so in the last 25 years.
2. S-WORDS
The Sabres enter tonight's game on a five-game losing streak, having not scored more than two goals in each of the losses... The Sabres have their best winning percentage (7-5-3 for .566) against the Metropolitan Division and have won four of their last five games when facing the Metro... Buffalo has the NHL's worst penalty kill, ranking 31st at 74.0%, and have allowed at least one power-play goal in 34 of their 67 games thus far, including 11 games of allowing multiple power-play goals.
3. I LOVE LAMP
The Flyers are ranked fifth in the NHL in offense - both for goals scored (224) and goals per-game (3.34) - the Flyers have not finished in the Top 5 of either category since the 2011-12 season when they finished second in both (225 & 3.17)... During this win streak, they have outscored their opponent 36 to 15 and have scored four or more goals in each of the games - with four or more goals tonight they will match the 1992-93 team for nine straight games with 4+ goals which is T-3rd most in franchise history.
4. US, THEM, US vs. THEM
US: Nicolas Aube-Kubel has a five-game point streak (2g-3a), while Jake Voracek (8a) and Ivan Provorov (2g-3a) each have four-game streaks... THEM: The Sabres have one of the best rookies in the NHL, Victor Olofsson, who ranks fourth in scoring with 40 points (19g-21a) and leads all NHL rookies with 11 power-play goals... USvsTHEM: It's the second of three meetings and final game in Philly... The Flyers have won three straight against the Sabres, outscoring them 17-5, including their only meeting this season - a 6-1 win in which Travis Konecny had three assists and the Flyers scored three power-play goals.
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH
FLYERS (D: #15 - Matt Niskanen)
Niskanen has had six straight games of plus or better and since returning from the NHL All-Star/Bye Week break, he leads all NHL players with a plus-minus rating of +18... Niskanen also leads the Flyers defense in scoring since that Jan. 31 date with 14 points (3g-11a) in 17 games.
SABRES (C: #9 - Jack Eichel)
Eichel is having career-year in goals with 35 and leads the Sabres with 77 points, both of which are Top 10 in the NHL... He missed the only meeting against the Flyers this season and averages a point per-game when he is in the lineup with eight goals and 11 points, but has only two points (1g-1a) in five games at the Wells Fargo Center.
