Buffalo Sabres-Philadelphia Flyers: Buffalo Falls Short with Forgettable Effort

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The Philadlephia Flyers came into Buffalo Thursday night with a severely injury depleted line up, and many players suffering the effects of the flu.

Tonight in their game versus Buffalo it looked like Buffalo was the team struggling with sickness the Flyers dominated the entire game on route to a 5-2 thrashing of the Sabres.

The first period was played somewhat competitively by both teams.Then with less than two minutes remaining in the first Daniel Carcillo put the visitors up 1-0 going into the locker room.

The second saw a an out burst of goals. Unfortunately for Buffalo most were scored against them. Chris Pronger got it started early with a seeing eyed shot past Ryan Miller to widen the margin. But on the power play less than four minutes later Derek Roy made the best of a broken play to net Buffalo's first goal of the night.

It was rookie  James Van Riemsdyk who re-captured the two goal lead for Philly as 14 minutes into the second he netted his third of the season, bringing the score to 3-1. That is how the period would end

The third period was no real prize for Buffalo as tentative play again was the special of the night. Darroll Powe took advantage of a give away by Buffalo in the offensive zone, to net his fourth of the year, and again widen the margin to three goals for Philadelphia.

Buffalo then would take advantage on the power play as Tyler Myers one timed a shot from the point past goaltender Ray Emery to try and give Buffalo some life. But it was all for not. As Philadelphia would seal the deal with an empty net goal late in the game to win going away 5-2.

Thoughts and observations from tonight embarrassment.

The lack of effort as an entire team tonight by the Sabres still has me wondering if this team has truly turned this magical corner that everyone is talking about. It seems far too often the offense lacks consistency, and scoring  to be considered a team that is ready to take that next step.

The defense was out muscled, and intimidated. Yes there are young players on the blue line, but you have three veterans that need to stand up and take accountability for their actions. Goaltender Ryan Miller again is going to have to watch  the traffic in front of the net, as the defense has forgotten how to remove forwards from his area.

Jason Pominville said it perfect in a post game press conference. "We were out worked in every way tonight" Very true Jason my question is, What are you and the rest of the forwards going to do about it?

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