PHILADELPHIA — In a lively matchup on Saturday night, the Philadelphia Flyers secured a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, largely thanks to standout performances from Travis Konecny and heralded rookie Matvei Michkov. Konecny netted two goals and contributed an assist, while Michkov, who has been making waves since his debut, added two assists to his growing tally of points.

Supporting Konecny’s efforts were Travis Sanheim and Egor Zamula, each of whom also added a goal and an assist to the Flyers’ total. Tyson Foerster chipped in with another goal, helping Philadelphia to its third consecutive win and fourth victory in five games. This triumph marked the start of a four-game homestand for the Flyers.

For the Sabres, Rasmus Dahlin stood out with a goal and an assist, while Ryan McLeod found the net as well, despite Buffalo experiencing their second loss in the last six games. Dahlin’s goal was particularly notable; he unleashed a powerful slapshot midway through the third period, extending his points streak to six games.

Philadelphia’s Ivan Fedotov showcased his skills with 23 saves in goal, while his counterpart from Buffalo, Devon Levi, made 27 stops during the match. As time dwindled, Konecny capped off his impressive evening with an empty-net goal, bringing his season total to 11 and solidifying his position as the team’s leading goal scorer.

Key takeaways from the match included Dahlin’s continued excellence, as he tallied five goals and four assists throughout his ongoing points streak. Meanwhile, Michkov, who was selected seventh overall in the 2023 draft, continued to dazzle, now accruing 15 points across 16 games in his rookie season.

A pivotal moment in the game arrived when Konecny finished off a stunning 2-on-0 play with Michkov, pushing the Flyers ahead to a commanding 4-0 lead and effectively sealing the win for the home team.

In a noteworthy statistic, Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson celebrated a milestone by playing in his 1,000th career NHL game. The former first overall pick from 2006 has recorded 94 goals and 251 assists throughout his impressive 17-year career.

Looking ahead, the Sabres are set to embark on a three-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, the Flyers will continue their homestand on Monday, facing off against the Colorado Avalanche.