It was an evenly matched game to start. Both the Flyers and Sabres spent time in the offensive zone. The Sabres had a tough time getting the puck on net, though.
Travis Sanheim put the Flyers on the board first. Winning the faceoff in the zone, Kevin Hayes sent it back to Sanheim. He turned towards the net and fired it past Hutton.
The Sabres began to buzz midway through the period. That was when Hart faced his first real chance. He gloved down a shot from Wayne Simmonds in the slot.