The Buffalo Sabres Attempt to Silence the Philadelphia Flyers

Wagering: 1.888.238.8018 - 1.888.889.4313
Customer Service: 1.877.717.7747 - 1.888.889.4368

: 1.888.238.8198 - 1.888.889.4312
: 1.888.378.0888 - 1.888.889.4219

The Buffalo Sabres Attempt to Silence the Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the best teams in the NHL, but in game one of their playoff series against Buffalo, they were not able to get on the scoreboard.

One juicy rebound was all the Sabres needed to steal home ice from the Flyers. Locked in a scoreless battle for the first 45 minutes, the Flyers lost a pair of battles -- one in the corner and one in front of the net -- on Patrick Kaleta's game-winning goal. Flyers defenseman Matt Carle was knocked off the puck by 6-foot-5 center Paul Gaustad, starting the play that led to Kaleta winning a crease battle for position with Flyers defenseman Danny Syvret, who was making his playoff debut. "The rebound sort of kicked out just out of my reach," Syvret said. "I tried to lift his stick and he pretty much had a gaping net. I took a swing at his stick and missed it."

For weeks the Flyers have talked about flipping a playoff switch. They did on Thursday night but Ryan Miller kept them in the dark.

On a night when the spotlight burned brightly on Russian rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, it was Miller who frustrated the Flyers' shooters with 35 saves in a 1-0 Sabres victory that put the second-seeded Flyers in an early hole.

The Flyers are 14-20 when losing Game 1 of a seven-game playoff series and 3-13 when losing the first two games of a series. By comparison, they are 16-15 when a series is tied after two games.

Game 2 is slated for Saturday night and the Flyers' first order of business will be directing traffic on the corner of Ryan and Miller.

It would help if the Flyers had a crease-crashing forward who made a living off deflections and tap-ins. But aside from Scott Hartnell, no one on the Flyers seems willing to take the beating required to score garbage goals against a goalie who will make them work for everyone. The Flyers crash the nets and even up the series with a win game two.

Hockey Picks: Philadelphia Flyers

Bet the NHL Playoffs at BetPhoenix This online sportsbook has the best odds and wagering opportunities in the NHL playoffs on the road to the Stanley Cup.