Power breaks tie in 3rd period, Sabres defeat Flyers

PHILADELPHIA – Owen Power scored his first goal of the season, and Tage Thompson had a goal and two assists for the Buffalo Sabres in a 5-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday.

"They don't ask how, they ask how many," Power said. "It's obviously not our best win, but you take them when you can in this league, so [I] can't complain about it."

Brandon Biro scored twice, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 38 saves for the Sabres (5-5-0), who won 4-0 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday and have consecutive victories for the first time this season.

Joel Farabee and Cam Atkinson scored for the Flyers (4-5-1), who have lost three in a row. Samuel Ersson made seven saves on nine shots in relief of Carter Hart, who made three saves on five shots before leaving the game at 10:00 of the first period because of a mid-body injury.

Philadelphia outshot Buffalo 30-8 during the final two periods.

"It's frustrating that the puck isn't going in," Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim said. "We're still generating those chances so we just have to stay with it, stay positive as best we can and hope that things are going to turn here and those bounces are going to start going in. You put 40 shots up in a game, you're going to score more than two goals most nights."

Power broke a 2-2 tie at 3:03 of the third period. Thompson skated the puck into the offensive zone, drew two defenders and dropped a pass for Power, who beat Ersson past his glove. Power, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, had not scored since Feb. 18. He extended his point streak to four games (one goal, three assists), his longest in the NHL. 

"I was coming in late and [Thompson] just kind of dropped it and I had quite a bit of time to just walk in and shoot it," Power said. "I was lucky enough it went in."

His first goal last season, also a game-winner in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Dallas Stars on Jan. 23, came in his 43rd game. This season, his first came in his 10th game.

"Getting it a little earlier than last year," Power said. "Now you don't really have to worry about it and you just go play. They seem like they're easy to come by when you get your first one out of the way."

Luukkonen preserved the lead, making 20 saves in the third period, including against Garnet Hathaway on a 2-on-0 rush with 13:37 remaining.

"That's a big one, there's no question," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "And you're on the road, too, so you keep the crowd out of it when he makes that save."

Farabee gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead 55 seconds into the first period when his centering pass for Bobby Brink went in off the stick of Buffalo defenseman Henri Jokiharju.

Casey Mittelstadt scored from the slot to tie the game 1-1 at 3:38.

Biro put the Sabres ahead 2-1 at 10:00 with his first NHL goal in just his second game. He was recalled from Rochester of the American Hockey League on Tuesday and was playing his first NHL game since Feb. 23, 2022.

"Obviously it's been a long road to get here," the 25-year-old said. "To finally get one after a long time ... I haven't played [an NHL] game in almost two years. It's definitely been a grind to get here and just a weight off the shoulders."

Hart left the game after Biro's goal. Flyers coach John Tortorella said he expects to have an update Thursday.

Atkinson tied it 2-2 at 16:17 when he tipped Sanheim's shot past Luukkonen.

After Power scored, Thompson made it 4-2 at 13:28. Alex Tuch held in a Flyers clearing attempt, passed to Thompson in the left face-off circle, and his wrist shot beat Ersson over his glove. Thompson has eight points (four goals, four assists) during a four-game point streak.

Biro scored an empty-net goal at 16:52 for the 5-2 final.

NOTES: The teams will play again at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday. ... Sabres forward Jeff Skinner appeared to score at 9:29 of the second period, but the goal was overturned after a coach's challenge showed the play was offside. ... Skinner had an assist on Mittelstadt's goal to extend his point streak to six games (four goals, five assists). ... Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin had his eight-game point streak end. ... Farabee scored his third game-opening goal of the season, tying Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard for the NHL lead. ... Sanheim got his eighth and ninth assist to tie Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings for the League lead among defensemen.