Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers 21 October 2026 Prediction

The Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers matchup brings together two Eastern Conference teams with different recent results. Buffalo has split its last four games, while Philadelphia has won two straight. The Sabres won two of the teams’ three meetings last regular season.

Buffalo Has Struggled for Consistency

Buffalo has won two of its last four games but allowed at least three goals in each. The Sabres lost 4-3 in overtime at Montreal in their most recent game, allowing 34 shots on goal. Their season average is 24.6 shots allowed per game.

Lindy Ruff’s team gave up a power-play goal against Montreal, but its penalty kill has stopped 82.4% of opponents’ chances this season, a top-10 mark. Buffalo’s power play has converted just 9.1% of its opportunities, the lowest rate in the NHL.

Buffalo Sabres Predicted Lineup: Luukkonen (Ellis); Samuelsson, Zellweger; McLeod, Thompson, Doan

Remaining roster: Defensemen: Power, Metsa, Gilbert, Crevier; forwards: Benson, Östlund, Quinn, Kulich, Norris, Helenius, Malenstyn, Krebs, Carrick

Unavailable: Timmins, Lyon, Grzelcyk, Zucker (injured); Danforth, Dahlin (questionable)

Manager: Lindy Ruff

Philadelphia Has Won Two Straight

After nine losses early in the season, Rick Tocchet’s team has won its last two games at home, beating Ottawa 3-1 and Colorado 3-2. Matvei Michkov scored three goals across those games. The Flyers scored on 12.5% of their shots against the Avalanche, well above their 7.4% shooting percentage for the season.

Philadelphia has converted 12.9% of its power-play chances, a below-average rate. Its penalty kill has been stronger, stopping 84.6% of opponents’ opportunities to rank among the league’s top 10.

Philadelphia Flyers Predicted Lineup: Wall (Vladar); Sanheim, Bonk; Zegras, Dvorak, Acciari

Remaining roster: Defensemen: Seeler, Drysdale, Benoit, Jiricek; forwards: Martone, Cates, Michkov, Gaucher, Couturier, Bunting, Bump, Barkey, Knuble

Unavailable: Grebenkin, Ristolainen, Konecny, York, Tippett (injured); Foerster (questionable)

Manager: Rick Tocchet

Home Teams Have Won the Last Seven Meetings

Buffalo has won four of the teams’ last seven meetings, all of which were won by the home team. In their most recent matchup, the Sabres beat the Flyers 5-2 despite being outshot 22-15. Rasmus Dahlin scored twice on the power play for Buffalo.

Key Stats

Philadelphia has recorded fewer than 25 shots on goal in eight of its 11 games.

The Flyers allow 3.63 expected goals against per game, one of the five highest figures in the NHL.

Buffalo allows an average of 0.33 goals in the third period, the best mark in the league.

Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers Prediction: Buffalo Sabres to Win at 1.93

Main prediction: Buffalo has won three of its five home games and generates 3.5 expected goals per game at home, a top-10 mark. Philadelphia has lost all five of its road games, scoring just 1.2 goals per game away from home. Only two teams have a lower road scoring average. The Sabres have won the last two meetings by a combined score of 10-5. The pick is Buffalo Sabres to win at 1.93. Predicted score: 5-3.

Totals prediction: Buffalo’s games have averaged 6.3 goals in regulation, and Philadelphia has scored three goals in each of its last two games. The teams have combined for at least seven goals in each of their last six meetings. The additional pick is over 5.5 total goals at 1.75.