NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with Monday’s matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
This game figures to be crucial as both teams chase the Hurricanes and Penguins, who are tied with 72 points for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot. Though the Sabres (10th in East) sit one point ahead of the Flyers (11th), their recent play has them going in opposite directions.
Philadelphia is 13-3-1 in its last 17 games and are coming off dramatic 4-3 overtime win vs. the Penguins in Saturday’s Stadium Series game. Meanwhile, the Buffalo is 1-4-1 in its last 6 games, including Monday night’s 5-3 defeat at Toronto. The Sabres have not won two in a row in over two months.
After snapping a four-game losing streak on Saturday against Washington, and then taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission yesterday against Toronto, it appeared that the Sabres were building some momentum. However, Buffalo allowed four goals in the second period, saw Carter Hutton get pulled, and ultimately lost 5-3.
The Flyers have had a couple days off since their improbable comeback victory in the Stadium Series game at Lincoln Financial Field. Trailing 3-1 with just over three minutes to play, Philly rallied to tie the game before Claude Giroux – in his 800th career game – scored the OT winner.
Just when it appeared that Carter Hart was finally providing some stability in net, he was pulled in back-to-back starts last week before getting ruled out for at least 10 days with a lower-body injury in advance of the Stadium Series game. In stepped Brian Elliott, who made 40 saves to defeat the Penguins in his first start since November 15 (he did appear twice in relief of Hart earlier in the week). Elliott will start again in this game.
Since winning their 10th straight game on Nov. 27 to claim 1st place in the entire NHL, Buffalo has been a very below-average team. They have a 12-19-6 record over that span and have dropped from first in the NHL in 17th.
[WATCH LIVE – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 6 P.M. ET – NBCSN]
What: Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers Where: Wells Fargo Center When: Tuesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m. ET TV: NBCSN Live stream: You can watch the Sabres-Flyers stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
SABRES Jeff Skinner - Jack Eichel - Evan Rodrigues Conor Sheary - Casey Mittelstadt - Sam Reinhart Scott Wilson - Vladimir Sobotka - Jason Pominville Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo
Jake McCabe - Rasmus Ristolainen Rasmus Dahlin - Zach Bogosian Marco Scandella - Brandon Montour
Starting goalie: Carter Hutton
FLYERS Claude Giroux - Nolan Patrick - Travis Konecny Oskar Lindblom - Sean Couturier - Jakub Voracek James van Riemsdyk - Scott Laughton - Michael Raffl Corban Knight - Ryan Hartman
Ivan Provorov - Travis Sanheim Shayne Gostisbehere - Radko Gudas Robert Hagg - Andrew MacDonald
Phil Myers
Starting goalie: Brian Elliott
Gord Miller (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa.