In Buffalo, Brian Elliott made 23 saves to heel the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-0 win over the Sabres on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Elliott got the shutout for the Philadelphia Flyers
“I don’t know, I think earlier in my career we played down here a lot, playing with Ottawa,” Elliott said. “I have a good feeling, obviously, when I come in this rink. I wanted to keep that going and the guys played a great game in front of me.”
The Flyers improved to 10-4-3.
“We had mentioned a little bit prior to the COVID scenario we were trending upwards (had four games postponed earlier in month because of COVID-19 protocols),” Philadelphia head coach Alain Vigneault said. “Our game was picking up, our 5-on-5 play was picking up, both ways, defensively and offensively. I think slowly but surely we’ve stuck with the process and our game is getting better.
“Today I thought we had some real good looks, we were able to capitalize, got the saves at the right time, obviously. For the most part in the game we didn’t give up any second opportunities that are coming to mind right now. It was a team effort, team game.”
The Sabres dropped to 6-9-3.
“You can see that pretty well right through the night they just had a higher level of energy in the battles,” Buffalo chead oach Ralph Krueger said. “We weren’t able to defend the way we wanted to, closing gaps the way we’re capable of. And also with the puck, the management of it always seemed a little hesitant. The eight games in 13 days coming out of COVID is something we knew was coming at us. We got a game again here in 24 hours, but it is a mental fight to continue to keep consistent with our game.”
Sean Couturier had a goal and two points for the Flyers, hist first period goal staked the Flyers to a 1-0 lead.
Shayne Gostisbehere and Scott Laughton scored in the middle frame for a 3-0 lead the Flyers and Elliott would hold.
“Obviously a really good play,” Laughton said. “I think it got started with [Jakub Voracek] along the wall, and then Oskar made a great play. Always nice to contribute and nice to get back.”
Carter Hutton made 36 saves in the loss.
“Guys are competing. For whatever reason, it seems like we’re just pedaling really hard uphill,” the Sabres’ Eric Staal said. “When you’re struggling with confidence and you’re struggling offensively, I feel like a lot of times with a lot of guys you’re guilty of maybe doing too much and just not executing on the smaller details. Swimming hard, but just not all in the right direction. It kind of feels that way right now. It’s frustrating, it’s frustrating for everybody. But the only way you can get out of it is to get on the ice and we get a chance to do that tomorrow.”
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