Looking for their third win in a row and first road victory of the season, Rick Tocchet's Philadelphia Flyers (2-6-3) are in New York State on Wednesday night to take on Lindy Ruff's Buffalo Sabres (4-3-2). This is the first of three meetings this season between the clubs.
Game time at KeyBank Center is 7:30 p.m. EDT. The nationally broadcast game is on TNT, TRUTV, and HBO MAX.
On Monday, the Flyers skated to a 3-2 home win over the Colorado Avalanche at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Matvei Michkov led the way with power play and even strength goals (5th and 6th of the season), Noel Acciari notched his first tally as a Flyer. Joseph Woll (24 saves) earned his first win.
Meanwhile, with the Flyers riddled with injuries, Monday's lineup had a very young look by necessity. Alex Bump and Cole Knuble (NHL debut) flanked fellow youngster Denver Barkey. Young defenseman Hunter McDonald also joined the lineup.
Meanwhile, the Sabres have played beyond regulation in each of the last three games. Last Friday, the Sabres settled for one point from a 4-3 overtime loss in Montreal. Josh Norris (2nd), Jack Quick (shorthanded, 5th), and Tage Thompson (5th) scored for the Sabres.
Here are the RAV4 Things to watch on Wednesday evening.
1. Power play adjustment: Zegras
Two games ago, Tocchet made a strategic adjustment to the long-suffering Flyers power play. He moved the left-handed shooting Trevor Zegras from the right hall boards to the left. Being able to skate "downhill" with the puck with his stick angled on his natural side has opened up Zegras' effectiveness on the power play. Meanwhile, Matvei Michkov has the right flank to himself and the ability to roam the offensive zone.
2. Michkov on a roll
Third-year NHL winger Matvei Michkov seems to be blossoming into his long-predicted NHL offensive stardom. He's playing with supreme confidence and has added more elusiveness and strength than he showed a year ago.
Michkov has earned First Star honors each of the last two games. He brings a three-game goal streak into Wednesday's tilt. Over that stretch, the Russian winger has four goals and five points. He's also shown subtle improvements in other facets of his game.
3. Shooting mentality
The first 12 minutes of the Colorado game on Monday marked Philly's best in-game stretch of any match to date. Everything worked in sync, with and without the puck. Meanwhile, when the Flyers gained the offensive zone, they showed -- for the second straight match -- more willingness to shoot the puck and crash the net rather than make extra passes seeking "perfect" plays.
4. Between the pipes
Over the last couple weeks, the Flyers have alternated starts between Dan Vladar (1-3-1, 3.58 GAA, .889 SV%) and Woll (1-3-2, 2.64 GAA, .916 SV%). If that pattern holds, it will be Vladar's turn again in Buffalo.
