Game 63: Flyers at Sabres

Philadelphia Flyers: 30-25-7, 67 points
Buffalo Sabres: 30-24-8, 68 points

Martin Biron v. Ryan Miller

Now that the losing streak has reached 10 games, the Flyers will try to end it against another team who has had a 10 game losing streak this year. Right now, Buffalo is 6-3-1 in their last 10, so they're playing pretty good hockey at the moment. The Flyers have to do something, anything to get out of this slump. The season is on the line, and there isn't much time left to right-size this ship.

However, as just about every Flyers fan knows, playing Buffalo has been quite problematic in recent years. Since the lockout, the Flyers are only 4-9-3 against the Sabres, including that embarrassing playoff series from two seasons ago. Most of us would like to forget that one, in which the Sabres raced in out, around over and under the Flyers, piling up multiple goals in every game. The Buffalo system just matches up well against the Flyers, and it seems that whoever is in the lineup, they'll have an answer.

This game has pretty big playoff implications. At the moment, Buffalo is the 8 seed and the Flyers are the 9 seed. If the Flyers win, they'll knock Buffalo out and be back in the playoff picture. If the Sabres win, they build a bigger gap between the playoff and non playoff teams, and pull even with Boston for the 7 seed, despite the B's having a game in hand. It's hard to believe that even with all of this losing and things spiraling out of control, you could wake up tomorrow and the Flyers would be the #8 seed. Mark Eckel guarantees it.

Bill Meltzer has the lineup notes. Downie could play tonight, and that would bring a little boost to the sagging offense. I'd imagine Ruzicka won't be scratched if Downie can't go.

It's tough to be confident against Buffalo, a team that has completely destroyed the Flyers in recent years, but the losing has to end sometime, right?