Buffalo Sabres Seek Redemption in Final Season Game Against Flyers

Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Sabres will close their 2024-25 NHL season on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, marking the 14th consecutive year the team will miss the playoffs. Despite a promising stretch earlier in the season, Buffalo finds itself ending on a disappointing four-game losing streak.

In a season that could have seen standout Tage Thompson reach the 50-goal milestone, he has come up empty during the last four games, scoring only one point in that span. “It’s frustrating, it sucks to be playing this game knowing there’s guys around the league that are gearing up for playoffs, and you’re just playing this game to finish up the season,” Thompson lamented. “This is my seventh year here, and I’ve got nothing to show for it,” he said, reflecting on the team’s ongoing struggles.

The Sabres once showed promise, experiencing a five-game win streak earlier in the season, but inconsistency has plagued their performance. Head Coach Lindy Ruff, who is stuck on 899 career NHL wins, will seek that elusive 900th in the season finale. Ruff acknowledged the ups and downs the team has faced, attributing their recent losses to an inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Thompson, who has registered 12 shots in the recent games without scoring, expressed hope in shifting the narrative in what will be the team’s last chance to showcase their potential this season. “We’ve had our chances, we just need to bear down and capitalize,” he added.

Bouncing back from their most recent game—a 4-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs—will prove critical as they face the Flyers, who have outscored them in two prior encounters this season. Thompson aims to use this game as a stepping stone, as he prepares to represent Team USA in the upcoming World Championships.

Meanwhile, the Flyers have seen a resurgence under interim coach Brad Shaw, collecting five wins in their last eight outings. The Flyers’ leading scorer, Travis Konecny, has made an impact against the Sabres this season with two goals and three assists in their previous matchups.

This finale holds significance not just for bragging rights but for draft positioning as both teams are near the bottom of the standings. Currently, the Sabres hold a 35-39-7 record while the Flyers sit at 33-38-10. With the draft lottery approaching, the outcome of the game could impact both teams’ futures going into the offseason.

As Fan Appreciation Night at KeyBank Center, the Sabres will offer various giveaways, including an Alex Tuch bobblehead for the first 15,000 fans. Tuch is also on the cusp of personal achievements; currently with 35 goals, he is one shy of his career high and one blocked shot away from setting a new record for a forward.

The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550. For the Sabres, this game represents a last chance to uplift spirits before the offseason, while the Flyers seek to end the season with a positive note.