EditorsNote: Minor tweaks
James van Riemsdyk scored and recorded an assist during Philadelphia's three-goal second period, and Carter Hart made 28 saves for his second career shutout, as the visiting Flyers blanked the Buffalo Sabres for a third straight meeting, 3-0 on Sunday.
Sean Couturier recorded his fifth goal in eight games this season and Michael Raffl also scored for Philadelphia, which outshot the hosts 38-28 to win its third in a row while coach Alain Vigneault earned his 700th career victory.
The Flyers lost 6-1 to the Sabres on Jan. 18, but since have recorded three straight 3-0 victories against Buffalo. On Saturday, Brian Elliott stopped 23 shots, but on Sunday, Hart had to do a little more work in recording his first shutout since Oct. 9, 2019, versus New Jersey.
Hart, who entered with a 4.42 road goals-against average, made a pair of diving saves in the second period and also stopped Buffalo's Taylor Hall on a point-blank chance early in the third. Philadelphia last blanked consecutive opponents in Oct. 12 and 14, 2015.
Even with the return of star Jack Eichel from a two-game absence with a lower-body issue, Buffalo struggled again, offensively. However, the Sabres did hit the iron three times while falling to 0-5-1 in their last six home contests. Buffalo was last shut out in back-to-back games in March 2019.
After a scoreless first period, Philadelphia struck just 22 seconds into the second period. On a rebound of Joel Farabee's shot, Couturier split two Buffalo players to tap the puck past goaltender Jonas Johansson (35 saves). Just 75 seconds later, the Flyers made it 2-0 when Raffl deflected in Robert Hagg's shot from the point.
van Riemsdyk, who assisted on Couturier's goal, deflected another Farabee shot nicely with the backhand and past Johansson with 4:37 left in the middle frame for his 10th goal. van Riemsdyk has scored half of those goals in the last seven games, and has recorded seven points in four contests.
--Field Level Media
