Sabres 5, Flyers 2
Thomas Vanek collected two goals and three assists and defenseman Tyler Myers scored to snap a tie with 5:03 remaining in the third period as host Buffalo netted three power-play goals in its season opener.
Steve Ott scored in his first game with his new team after being acquired in an offseason trade for Derek Roy. Captain Jason Pominville notched three assists and Ryan Miller turned aside 27 shots to improve to 6-1-1 in season openers.
Captain Claude Giroux found the net for the second straight contest, Sean Couturier also scored and Ilya Bryzgalov finished with 36 saves. The Flyers have permitted five power-play goals in two games and suffered back-to-back losses to open a season for the first time since 2008-09.
With the game tied at 2-2 and defenseman Luke Schenn serving a tripping penalty, Myers unleashed a shot from beyond the left faceoff circle that caromed off the skate of Philadelphia blue-liner Kimmo Timonen and past Bryzgalov.
Scott Hartnell was whistled for goaltender interference nearly two minutes later - and it proved costly for the Flyers. Vanek was denied by Bryzgalov on a breakaway, but Cody Hodgson tapped home the rebound to send the First Niagara Center into a frenzy.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Philadelphia nearly leveled the contest at 1-all with 4:16 remaining in the first period, but officials waived off the goal and whistled Ruslan Fedotenko for goaltender interference. ... Sabres C Ville Leino did not face his former team as he continues to deal with a lower body injury. Leino was hurt during Friday's practice. ... Flyers C Zac Rinaldo suffered a leg injury when he was cut by a skate in the first period. He did not return.