February 16, 2015
Jen Fuller/AP
Flyers' Matt Read celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with teammates during the first period
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Michael Raffl and Matt Read scored for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night.
Ray Emery made 21 saves as the Flyers ended their two-game skid in the finale of a four-game road trip.
Raffl scored the winner on a wraparound with 7:15 left in the third period after Sabres goalie Michal Neuvirth lost track of the puck behind the net.
The Sabres, playing for the first time since trading for defenseman Zach Bogosian and forward Evander Kane on Wednesday, got a goal from defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Bogosian started on the blue line in place of Josh Gorges, who was rested.
Neuvirth made 28 saves in his 20th start of the season, but first since the Sabres traded goalie Jhonas Enroth.
The Flyers opened an early lead when Read skated into the slot and redirected Wayne Simmonds' wrist shot from the point past Neuvirth 3:19 into the first period.
Philadelphia took two penalties on the same play midway through the second, setting the Sabres up for a 5-on-3 opportunity. The Flyers' Chris VandeVelde managed to get a breakaway before Zadorov's slap shot with 28 seconds left on the power play tied the game at 1.
The Flyers had a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal in the first period, but were outshot 11-9 in the second.
The Sabres held a moment of silence before the game to honor Steve Montador, who was found dead in his Mississauga, Ontario, home on Sunday at age 35. Montador played two of his 10 NHL seasons in Buffalo.
Flyers D Braydon Coburn (foot) played for the first time since Jan. 12.
Sabres F Johan Larsson, recalled Sunday from Rochester of the AHL, played his third game in three nights.
The Flyers host Columbus on Tuesday while the Sabres are at New Jersey. The teams meet again Thursday in Philadelphia.
