The Buffalo Sabres continued a four-game home stand on Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers, hoping to snap a skid that included two overtime losses.
The Flyers have stumbled similarly coming into the match, losers in three of their last four. The Sabres needed a win to keep pace with the white hot Lightning and the sprouting Leafs. Philadelphia risked losing ground to the New Jersey Devils in a race for last place in the Metropolitan division.
Unfortunately - and for the first time in nearly two months - concernedly, Buffalo was shut down for 55 minutes, falling completely apart in the third period for a 6-2 route at the hands of the Flyers.