There's something about Mary.
Actually, there’s something about the Flyers … and their maddening way of playing “down” to their opponents.
The worst team in hockey — the Buffalo Sabres — gave the Flyers fits on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center during a terrible 3-2 shootout loss. Yeah, a shootout against the worst team in the NHL.
Brian Flynn won it.
Given the Flyers keep saying they’re in a playoff hunt, you’d expect a better all-around performance from them. They were sloppy with the puck and sloppy in just about everything they did much of the game.
The Flyers began the night seven points behind Boston for the wild card. They are now six points behind but have blown three points this week to Columbus and the Sabres.
Ray Emery looked a bit shaky early, settled down, and finished with 30 saves.
The Flyers dominated overtime.
Shootout
Incredibly, the Sabres are 7-2. The Flyers are 2-7.
NHL
Notable goals
Ryan White’s first as a Flyer came at 7:23 of the opening period. Braydon Coburn shot for the moon from the point and hit Mars. The carom off the back boards was violent right to White at the right post and he scored easily on Michal Neuvirth to make it a 1-1 game.
Goalie report
Neuvirth prevented a goal during one of the Flyers' power plays and had the tougher chances.
Disallowed
Zemgus Girgensons' goal late in regulation was disallowed for swatting the puck into the net with his hand.
Milestone
Buffalo’s Brian Gionta scored his 500th career point off a bad rebound 38 seconds into the second period, giving the Sabres a 2-1 lead.
Power play
Claude Giroux did not appear on the Flyers' first power play of the game but was inserted after. Their second unit wasted precious time doing pirouettes in the third period instead of shooting when the game was 2-2. The Flyers were 1 for 4. Buffalo was 0 for 3.
Penalty kill
The Flyers' PK units were not overworked.
Fights
Couple scrums, no fights.
Scratches
Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo and Andrew MacDonald and forward Zac Rinaldo. All healthy.
Up next
Big weekend coming up at the Wells Fargo with two matinees. The Flyers will host Peter Laviolette’s Nashville Predators on Saturday at 1 p.m., then the Washington Capitals on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.