Looking to rebound from an overtime loss in their last contest, the Philadelphia Flyers faced another tough Eastern Conference team in the Buffalo Sabres. They entered this game without top-line center Sean Couturier, though, announcing hours before puck-drop that he will be day-to-day with a lower body injury.
Jordan Weal re-entered the lineup with Couturier out, and Claude Giroux filled the first center-man position. James van Riemsdyk and Travis Konecny completed the rest of the new look top-line. It was key for JvR to get his game going against Buffalo, riding a six game pointless streak coming into the game.