Buffalo Sabres Edge Out Flyers 5-4 in Thrilling Season Finale
In an electrifying season finale, the Buffalo Sabres triumphed over the Philadelphia Flyers with a score of 5-4, showcasing standout performances from several players. Ryan McLeod not only scored a goal but also contributed two assists, while head coach Lindy Ruff celebrated a significant milestone, becoming the fifth coach in NHL history to reach 900 career wins.
Buffalo's offense was bolstered by Alex Tuch, JJ Peterka, and Jack Quinn, each of whom recorded a goal and an assist. Additionally, Peyton Krebs made his mark with a short-handed goal. Goaltender James Reimer was solid in net, making 21 saves and finishing the season with an impressive 10-10-2 record over his last 10 starts.
Ruff's achievement places him alongside notable coaches like Florida's Paul Maurice, who has 916 wins, as the only active coaches with 900 or more victories. In his second tenure with the Sabres, Ruff has amassed 607 wins, ranking second in franchise history behind Al Arbour's 740 wins with the Islanders.
On the Flyers' side, rookie Matvei Michkov broke a six-game goal drought by netting two goals, while Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink each contributed a goal and an assist. Rookie goaltender Aleksei Kolosov made 26 saves, but the loss meant the Flyers finished last in the Eastern Conference for only the second time in their history.
Despite nearly squandering a 4-1 lead in the second period, McLeod sealed the victory for the Sabres with an empty-net goal with just 48 seconds remaining, ensuring Buffalo never trailed in the match.
For the Flyers, Michkov's 26 goals rank as the sixth most by a rookie in franchise history, the highest since Mikael Renberg scored 38 in the 1993-94 season. Meanwhile, Tuch set a new NHL record for forwards with 112 blocked shots this season.
In a pivotal moment, a replay review in the third period confirmed that a shot from Flyers' Sean Couturier had not fully crossed the goal line, keeping the Sabres ahead 4-3. The Sabres concluded their season with a commendable 23-15-3 record at home, marking their best performance in Buffalo since the 2009-10 season when they recorded 25 home wins.
