The Philadelphia Flyers won. Honestly, it wasn't the prettiest game you’ll ever see at the Wells Fargo Center, but a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres is exactly what John Tortorella’s squad needed to keep their heads above water. If you missed the action on Saturday night, November 16, 2024, you missed a game that felt like a microcosm of the entire Flyers season: gritty, a little chaotic, and powered by some unexpected offensive outbursts.
They won. Finally.
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Following a stretch where the team struggled to find the back of the net consistently, this win felt like a massive exhale for the South Philly faithful. It wasn't just that they won, but how they did it. Travis Konecny was everywhere. Seriously, the guy is playing like he's shot out of a cannon every single shift. He tallied two goals and an assist, proving once again why he's the heartbeat of this roster.
Why the Flyers Win Over Buffalo Actually Matters
When you search for who won flyers game, you're usually looking for a score, but the context in the NHL standings right now is way more interesting. The Flyers entered that matchup against Buffalo on a three-game winning streak, looking to make it four. They did exactly that. It's the first time this season they've really looked like they have an identity.
The first period was a bit of a feeling-out process. You could tell both teams were tired. But then, Travis Konecny happened. He scored his 10th of the season late in the first, and suddenly the energy in the building shifted. It's funny how one player can change the entire vibe of a stadium. The Sabres, meanwhile, looked lost. Tage Thompson was out with an injury, and without their big superstar, Buffalo’s offense lacked that terrifying edge we've seen from them earlier in the year.
Tyson Foerster also got on the board. That’s huge. Foerster has been snake-bitten for a while, and seeing him rip a shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was a relief for fans who have been waiting for the young winger to find his rhythm. Then you have Egor Zamula, who added a goal from the point. When the defense starts chipping in, the Flyers become a much harder team to defend.
The Goaltending Factor: Fedotov Stepping Up
Ivan Fedotov was the story in net. Let's be real—people were worried about the goaltending situation with Sam Ersson sidelined. Fedotov hadn't exactly looked like a wall in his earlier starts this season. But against Buffalo, he was solid. He stopped 23 of 25 shots. He looked bigger in the net, more confident. He wasn't fighting the puck as much as he was in October.
It’s easy to overlook a goalie when the team scores five goals, but Fedotov made a couple of key saves in the second period when it was still a close game. If he lets one of those in, maybe the Sabres get some momentum and the whole night feels different. Instead, he held the fort.
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Rasmus Dahlin tried to drag the Sabres back into it. He scored a power-play goal in the third that made things a little tense. For a second, you could feel the "here we go again" energy creeping into the crowd. But the Flyers didn't crumble. They stayed aggressive. That’s the Tortorella influence. In years past, this team might have sat back and tried to protect a lead, only to give up a late equalizer. Not this time.
Breaking Down the Scoring
- First Period: Travis Konecny (Assisted by Michkov and Sanheim). A gritty goal that set the tone.
- Second Period: Tyson Foerster and Travis Konecny again. Konecny’s second was a beaut, showing off those hands that make him a nightmare in transition.
- Third Period: Egor Zamula and an empty-netter by Scott Laughton to seal the deal.
Buffalo got goals from Dahlin and Ryan McLeod, but it wasn't enough. They looked like a team missing their best player, which they were. But you can only play who is in front of you, and the Flyers exploited Buffalo’s defensive lapses perfectly.
What This Means for the Standings
Right now, the Metropolitan Division is a slaughterhouse. You can't afford to drop points against teams like Buffalo if you want to be in the playoff conversation come April. This win moved the Flyers to an 8-8-2 record. Being at .500 might not sound like a championship pedigree, but considering how the season started? It’s a win.
Matvei Michkov’s return to the lineup after being scratched for a few games has been a massive talking point. Tortorella caught a lot of heat for sitting the rookie phenom, but Michkov responded with a multi-point game against Ottawa earlier in the week and remained a threat against Buffalo. He picked up an assist on Konecny’s opening goal. The kid is special. You can see it in how he handles the puck in tight spaces. He sees lanes that other players simply don't.
The Strategy That Secured the Victory
The Flyers' forecheck was relentless. They didn't give the Sabres' defensemen any time to breathe. Basically, if you give a guy like Rasmus Dahlin time to look up and make a pass, he’s going to kill you. The Flyers knew that. They stayed on top of him all night.
They also won the special teams battle. In the NHL, that’s usually the difference-maker. The Flyers' penalty kill has been surprisingly effective lately, and while they gave up one to Dahlin, they stifled most of Buffalo’s opportunities.
It’s also worth mentioning the "Garnet Hathaway effect." He doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet, but he finishes every check. He makes the other team miserable. Against Buffalo, he was a pest. That kind of play wears down an opponent over 60 minutes. By the time the third period rolled around, the Sabres looked exhausted.
Who Won Flyers Game: Recent History and Trends
If you're looking at the broader picture of who won flyers game lately, the trend is surprisingly positive. After a disastrous road trip earlier in the fall, the team has found a way to win at home.
- Nov 16 vs Buffalo: 5-2 Win.
- Nov 14 vs Ottawa: 5-4 Win (OT).
- Nov 11 vs San Jose: 4-3 Win (SO).
Three straight wins before the Buffalo game, and then the Buffalo win made it four. That’s a streak. In the NHL, you ride those streaks as long as you can because a losing skid is always just around the corner.
Is this team a Stanley Cup contender? Probably not yet. But they are a "tough out." No one wants to come into Philly and play a team that hits this hard and has a goalie who is finally starting to see the puck.
Real Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following the Flyers closely, watch the line combinations. Tortorella is notorious for blending them mid-game. However, the Konecny-Michkov connection is something the fans are desperate to see more of. When they are on the ice together, the offensive ceiling of this team triples.
Also, keep an eye on the injury report. Sam Ersson is the clear number-one goalie, and while Fedotov played great against Buffalo, the team’s long-term success depends on Ersson’s health. If he’s out for an extended period, the pressure on Fedotov and the defense will become immense.
The defense is also quietly improving. Travis Sanheim is playing massive minutes—sometimes upwards of 25 a night. He’s becoming the workhorse this team hasn't had since the peak Ivan Provorov days. His ability to transition the puck from the defensive zone to the neutral zone is why the Flyers are suddenly scoring more.
Actionable Steps for Following the Season
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on Flyers news, don't just check the final scores. There are better ways to see where this team is headed.
- Track the Power Play Percentage: The Flyers have struggled historically on the man advantage. If that number starts to climb above 20%, they are a legitimate playoff threat. Against Buffalo, it looked okay, but it needs to be more consistent.
- Watch the Rookie Minutes: Michkov's ice time is a barometer for Tortorella's trust. If he's playing 18+ minutes, the Flyers are leaning into their skill. If he's under 12, they're playing a defensive, "trap" style game.
- Check the Atlantic Division Scores: Because the Flyers are fighting for a Wild Card spot, games involving the Sabres, Red Wings, and Senators matter almost as much as Flyers games themselves.
- Look at Secondary Scoring: It’s great when Konecny scores, but the Flyers win when guys like Bobby Brink and Scott Laughton contribute.
The victory against Buffalo was a statement that the Flyers aren't going to just roll over this year. They have flaws—lots of them—but they have a pulse. The Wells Fargo Center was loud, the players were physical, and for one night, everything clicked.
Moving forward, the schedule doesn't get any easier. They have matchups against some of the league’s heavy hitters coming up. But with a four-game winning streak in their pocket, they have the confidence to actually compete. If you were wondering who won flyers game, now you know: it was a dominant Philadelphia performance that might just have saved their season from an early slide into irrelevance.
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Keep an eye on the defensive pairings in the next few games. With the way Zamula and Sanheim are contributing offensively, the Flyers are becoming a multi-dimensional threat. It's not just "wait for Konecny to do something" anymore. And that is a very good sign for hockey in Philadelphia.