I Watched This Game: Record Breaking Time?

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

 Tonight is a special edition of "I Watched This Game," as the Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of history. Tonight, as in Wednesday, if I happen to post late, they take on the Philadelphia Flyers, where they have a chance to hold a dubious distinction of longest winless streak all to themselves. How did it get here? I will set the table, and hope it doesn't get broken.

Their 18 game winless streak has consisted of four shutouts, a coach getting fired, the GM behind the bench for a game, Eric Staal getting a "Get out of jail free" card, every team in the division getting at least one win, and three total points just for reaching overtime. However, nothing in that streak was more painful than Monday's game against the Flyers. Up 3-0 entering the third period, the Flyers score three unanswered goals in the period before Ivan Provorov put an end to things in overtime. In that time, the Sabres missed a chance to ice the game late when Tage Thompson missed an open net, only for Sean Couturier to score at the other end.

Now that I've given context, let's go to the game.

First period

• Brian Elliott and Linus Ullmark are in goal. Dylan Cozens is out due to injury, and Oskar Lindblom, Nolan Patrick, and Shayne Gostisbehere are scratched by the Flyers.
• Sloppy start to the game, as both teams have a fondness for icing the puck.
• Buffalo gets their act together long enough to strike first. A Kyle Okposo pass from the corner finds Sam Reinhart in front. He wrists one, and it goes in, with a little help from Justin Braun, to make it 1-0 Sabres. Rasmus Ristolainen gets an assist at 9:32.
• At 11:59, Riley Sheahan makes a block on a Flyers shot from the blue line, and corals it for a breakaway. He wisely sees Curtis Lazar trail behind him, and dishes it to him for a 2-0 lead.

After one period, the Sabres are up 2-0. Nationally televised game, and the announcers kept harping on Sabres mistakes as a reason for their 18 game winless streak. Both teams had trouble early, but Buffalo found some momentum in the middle of the period. Philadelphia has had a habit of starting slow, so let's hope this doesn't haunt them.

Second period 

• 54 seconds in, Tage Thompson high sticks Travis Sanehim in the Flyers' offensive zone. Two minutes, and a chance for the Flyers to swing momentum. 
• The Flyers don't score on the power play, but do get momentum on their side. They are rewarded with a goal at 3:50, as Ivan Provorov claps one off Brandon Montour in front and deflects past Ullmark. Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek get the assists.
• The momentum swings the other way, as Buffalo is the team on the attack. Ristolainen feeds a puck out of the corner to a waiting Steven Fogarty, who lasers one past Elliott to restore the two goal lead for the Sabres. Jacob Bryson also gets an assist at 9:42.
• The hits continue for both Bryson and Fogarty, as this time, they are the givers to a perfect Casey Mittelstadt finish. That also spells the end of the night for Elliott at 15:39, as he gives way to Alex Lyon.
• A Henri Jokiharju clear attempt goes out of play, but without touching any of the boards. That is a delay of game at 16:51.

Here we are again, a three goal lead for Buffalo heading into the third period. Do they hold on this time? 

The Flyers had things going for them at the start of the period, but once the Fogarty goal happened, the house caved in. Fogarty and Bryson stood out here.

Third period

• Not much to note for the first half of the period, which is a good thing for Buffalo. They may hold on, after all.
• Thompson trips Sanheim at 13:38. I may be speaking too soon.
• Never mind, Philadelphia pulls Lyon, but the gamble fails, as Montour nails a shot almost the length of the ice at 14:53. Short-handed, and an empty net. It's pretty much over now.
• Now, it's really over, as Montour takes a shot at Lyon, but is stopped. He finds a rebound, and nets his second short handed goal at 15:30.

Game over, Buffalo snaps an 18 game winless streak. The score pretty much tells it all, as Buffalo played one of their best games in a while, and Philadelphia looked sleepy throughout most of the game. Ullmark finally gets rewarded for his efforts, and there's more of a direction, at least the last three games. Taylor Hall still needs to find his game, and Rasmus Dahlin showed flashes.