Elliott makes 23 saves, Flyers shut out Sabres

BUFFALO -- Brian Elliott made 23 saves in his second consecutive start, and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

Elliott's shutout was his second this season, with each against Buffalo. He is 15-2-2 with four shutouts in his career against the Sabres.
"I don't know, I think earlier in my career we played down here a lot, playing with [the Ottawa Senators]," Elliott said. "I have a good feeling, obviously, when I come in this rink. I wanted to keep that going and the guys played a great game in front of me."

Sean Couturier had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (10-4-3), who have won two in a row. They had four games postponed earlier in month because of COVID-19 protocols.
"We had mentioned a little bit prior to the COVID scenario we were trending upwards," Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said. "Our game was picking up, our 5-on-5 play was picking up, both ways, defensively and offensively. I think slowly but surely we've stuck with the process and our game is getting better.
"Today I thought we had some real good looks, we were able to capitalize, got the saves at the right time, obviously. For the most part in the game we didn't give up any second opportunities that are coming to mind right now. It was a team effort, team game."
Carter Hutton made 36 saves for the Sabres (6-9-3), who lost their second game in a row without Jack Eichel. Jeff Skinner had no shots and was minus-1 in 14:03 of ice time after he was a healthy scratch the previous three games.
"You can see that pretty well right through the night they just had a higher level of energy in the battles," Buffalo coach Ralph Krueger said. "We weren't able to defend the way we wanted to, closing gaps the way we're capable of. And also with the puck, the management of it always seemed a little hesitant. The eight games in 13 days coming out of COVID is something we knew was coming at us. We got a game again here in 24 hours, but it is a mental fight to continue to keep consistent with our game."
Couturier gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 14:22 of the first period when his shot from the high slot hit Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour's glove and went over Hutton's left shoulder. Couturier has nine points (four goals, five assists) during a five-game point streak.
Shayne Gostisbehere made it 2-0 at 14:33 of the second period when he skated in alone and beat Hutton five-hole, and Oskar Lindblom sent Scott Laughton in on a breakaway to extend the lead to 3-0 at 18:54.
"Obviously a really good play," said Laughton, who had four shots and three hits in 14:19 in his first game since Feb. 7 after being removed from the NHL COVID-19 protocol list. "I think it got started with [Jakub Voracek] along the wall, and then Oskar made a great play. Always nice to contribute and nice to get back."

The teams play here again Sunday.
"Guys are competing. For whatever reason, it seems like we're just pedaling really hard uphill," Sabres forward Eric Staal said. "When you're struggling with confidence and you're struggling offensively, I feel like a lot of times with a lot of guys you're guilty of maybe doing too much and just not executing on the smaller details. Swimming hard, but just not all in the right direction. It kind of feels that way right now. It's frustrating, it's frustrating for everybody. But the only way you can get out of it is to get on the ice and we get a chance to do that tomorrow."
NOTES: Hutton started after Buffalo announced that goalie Linus Ullmark will be out at least one month because of a lower-body injury. … Flyers captain Claude Giroux played his 904th NHL game, passing Bill Barber for second place in Philadelphia history. Bobby Clarke is first with 1,144. … Lindblom, Voracek and defenseman Justin Braun each played his first game since Feb. 7 after being removed from the NHL COVID-19 protocol list. Lindblom had one assist in 13:23, Voracek had one assist in 16:17, and Braun was plus-2 with two hits in 21:20. … Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had one shot and six hits in 22:18 in his first game since Jan. 31 after being removed from the protocol list.