Postgame 5: Blanking Buffalo

In the front end of a weekend back-to-back set of matinees, the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the host Buffalo Sabres, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon. Philadelphia was the better team in all three periods.

A first period goal by Sean Couturier (4th of the season) and a second period tallies by Shayne Gostisbehere (2nd) and Scott Laughton (5th) built a 3-0 lead. The Flyers did not allow Buffalo to dent the advantage in the third period.
Brian Elliott notched a 22-save shutout. Carter Hutton denied 36 of 39 Flyers shots in a losing cause.
TURNING POINT
The Flyers' lead was too close for comfort, despite a territorial edge, before a strong individual effort by Gostisbehere and a slick setup on Laughton's goal put a stranglehold on the game.
MELTZER'S TAKE
1) Flyers captain Claude set a positive early tone. He drew a penalty on the Sabres, created a scoring chance with a cross-ice power play feed, and fired one through a screen.
2) Brian Elliott came through when tested in the first period. The Flyers were guilty of some unforced turnovers. Nonetheless, the Flyers took a 1-0 lead to intermission. Philly was unable to convert on a pair of golden chances and getting shots through was an issue or else the Flyers could have had a 3-0 lead. Good work by Travis Sanheim and Sean Couturier accounted for the lone goal.

3)Flyers held the territorial edge for much of the second period. Among others, the line of Giroux, Kevin Hayes and Nolan Patrick turned in quality shifts. Finally, the Flyers got a payoff and a 3-0 lead. Ghost had a strong individual effort to track the puck down and fire it home from the left circle. In the final minute of the frame, Lindblom made a great feed to goal-scorer Laughton. All three members of the line, including Jakub Voracek, picked up a point.

4) The Flyers sagged back a bit with a three-goal in the early portions of the third period. Connor Bunnaman provided some equilibrium by forcing a turnover.
5) As the final stanza moved along, the Flyers resumed firm control with a solid closeout. The absence of Jack Eichel was felt by Buffalo, but the Flyers were by far the better team regardless.