Sabres at Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have some work to do if they are to climb into playoff position in the crowded Eastern Conference, but will try to keep their encouraging play of late going when they host the struggling Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. Philadelphia defeated St. Louis 6-3 on Saturday for its second straight victory and third in four games, but is tied for last in the Metropolitan Division with the New York Islanders.
"We have a couple good games and then we slack off with how we play," Flyers captain Claude Giroux told reporters after recording a goal and two assists Saturday, giving him a team-high 51 points. "So we've got to keep going." Buffalo, meanwhile, is last in the Atlantic Division after a 4-3 loss at Winnipeg on Friday. The Sabres are riding a three-game losing streak and have the second-fewest points in the NHL to Arizona. "It seems like it's a lot of the same questions with a lot of the same answers," Buffalo coach Phil Housley told reporters after the Sabres gave up a pair of power-play goals Friday and are only 7-for-12 on the penalty kill in their last four games.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, Sportsnet; MSG Buffalo, NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE SABRES (10-22-9): Evander Kane shares the team lead in points (35) with Jack Eichel, but has only a goal and an assist in his last six games. Eichel hasn't recorded a point in three contests after a torrid stretch that saw him pile up seven goals and four assists in six games to end December. Jason Pominville (eight goals, 19 points) has three assists in his last two contests after not recording a point in his previous 10 contests.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (18-15-8): Sean Couturier scored twice Saturday, reaching the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his career and prompting him to tell reporters: "It's a great accomplishment in this league, but you know I'll take the win any day that I can instead of the goals." Wayne Simmonds scored Saturday for the third time in four games, giving him 14 on the season along with Giroux and tied for second to Couturier's 21. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has recorded at least a point in eight of his last 10 contests with four goals and five assists during that span.
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia RW Jakub Voracek leads the NHL with 41 assists after recording one Saturday, giving him five in the last four games.
2. Buffalo is 0-for-8 on the power play in its last two games and has the second-worst percentage in the NHL at 11.9 percent after leading the league at 24.5 percent last season.
3. The teams split the last 10 meetings including the first two of three encounters this season - each winning at home - with Buffalo's Ryan O'Reilly scoring in both games and Voracek recording three assists.