Flyers 4, Sabres 1
PHILADELPHIA -- Right winger Matt Read scored two goals 1:40 apart in the second period, center Vincent Lecavalier had a power-play goal and the streaking Philadelphia Flyers beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Thursday night.
The Flyers moved out of last place in the Metropolitan Division with their fifth win in six games. They're 5-0-1 during that span and 8-3-1 after a 1-7 start.
Defenseman Tyler Myers scored Buffalo's goal. The Sabres are an NHL-worst 5-18-1.
Goalie Ray Emery outplayed 2010 Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller, making 29 saves. Miller had 36 stops for the struggling Sabres. Left winger Scott Hartnell added an empty-net goal for the Flyers.
Right winger Steve Downie set up both of Read's goals to quickly turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead in the second period.
First, Read scored on a one-timer off Downie's centering pass to tie it at 1. Then Downie backhanded the puck from the left faceoff circle to Read, who was alone in front of the net. Read deked Miller and lifted a shot into the top corner to make it 2-1.
Center Sean Couturier had secondary assists on both goals.
Lecavalier gave the Flyers a two-goal cushion when he blasted a one-timer into the top left corner midway through the third period.
The Sabres went up 1-0 when Myers scored a power-play goal late in the first period. He stuffed the puck past Emery during a scramble in front of the net, sending the Sabres to their first lead after one period this season.
The Flyers killed off a four-minute penalty early in the second period when Hartnell got a double minor for high sticking. Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff hit the post for Buffalo's best chance.
The Flyers twice failed to score with a two-man advantage. They had 41 seconds of five-on-three hockey in the first period and 1:22 in the second.
NOTES: Sabres LW Luke Adam and D Brayden McNabb were recalled from AHL affiliate Rochester and were in the lineup. Adam had 13 goals in 15 games for the Americans. ... Sabres LW Ville Leino helped the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010 with seven goals and 14 assists in 19 playoff games. ... Flyers RW Matt Read registered his first multi-goal game of the season. ... The Sabres scored first for only the fourth time this season. They've been outscored 31-4 in the opening period. ... Flyers G Ray Emery made his sixth start. ... Sabres coach Ted Nolan and Flyers coach Craig Berube were the first First Nations coaches to face each other in NHL history. Nolan is an Ojibwa. Berube is part Cree.
