Claude Giroux, Carter Hart lead Flyers past Sabres 3-1 for 9th straight
Philippe Myers #5, Travis Sanheim #6, and Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers defend against Jack Eichel #9 and Sam Reinhart #23 of the Buffalo Sabres. ((Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images))
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Claude Giroux scored two goals and Carter Hart made 38 saves to lead the streaking Philadelphia Flyers to their ninth straight victory, 3-1 over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
Joel Farabee also scored and Jakub Voracek and Travis Sanheim each had a pair of assists for Philadelphia, which remained tied for first place with Washington in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals beat Pittsburgh 5-2 earlier Saturday.
Philadelphia improved to 25-5-4 at home, where Hart has been nearly unbeatable. The 21-year-old netminder upped his home mark to 20-2-2. Hart was stout all evening and particularly in the first period when the sluggish Flyers were outshot 13-4.
Dominik Kahun scored for Buffalo, which dropped its sixth straight. The Sabres haven't earned a point in any of those games, and it's the first time they've gone without a point in six consecutive games since Dec. 28, 2015, to Jan. 8, 2016.
Sabres star Jack Eichel extended the longest drought of his five-year career to seven games without a point.
Giroux's second goal of the night, which put Philadelphia ahead 2-1 with 10:32 left, was a highlight tally. Voracek's pass went off the stick of Buffalo defenseman Jake McCabe and into the air. Giroux wound up and connected just as the puck was landing on the ice, firing it past the left leg of Sabres goalie Carter Hutton for his 21st of the season.
Farabee made it 3-1 with 5:11 remaining after a defensive gaffe by the Sabres. Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen passed back to Hutton from inside the defensive zone. Farabee pressured Buffalo's goalie, intercepting Hutton's attempt at a return pass to Ristolainen before shooting between Hutton's legs.
Giroux opened the scoring midway through the second period. Voracek also set up that goal with a pass across the crease. Giroux corralled it with his skate and then backhanded the puck just under Hutton's Hutton.
Buffalo tied it with 3:06 left in the second when Kahun scored after a stellar pass from Victor Olofsson, who faked a shot and then dished to a wide-open Kahun to the right of the crease.
Buffalo dominated the opening period, and could've been up at least two goals if not for Hart. He stopped Sam Reinhart on a breakaway six minutes in and then made two good saves off a 2-on-1 about 4 1/2 minutes later, first on Johan Larsson's slap shot and then Zemgus Girgensons' follow from close range.
NOTES: The Flyers face the Eastern Conference's top two teams in their next two games, at home against the Bruins on Tuesday and at Tampa Bay on Thursday. Philadelphia's last loss was Feb. 15 at the Lightning. . Buffalo D Lawrence Pilut (illness) didn't play. . Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk (broken right hand) missed his second straight game. He is expected to miss four to six weeks. . Philadelphia leads the season series 2-0. The teams play for the final time April 4 in Buffalo.
UP NEXT
Buffalo: At Washington on Monday night.
Philadelphia: Hosts Boston on Tuesday night.