The Flyers dug deep and came back from a 3-0 first-period deficit to force overtime against the Sabres in Game 5. But unlike the Bruins game last playoffs the Orange and Black didn’t have enough left to finish the job dropping 4-3 in overtime.
Buffalo’s Tyler Ennis scored the game winner 5:31 into overtime. He beat goalie Michael Leighton on a rebound for his second goal of the game.
Leighton had replaced starter Brian Boucher after the Flyers netminder gave up three goals on 11 shots in the first 15:30 or so of the game. Leighton, the third Flyers goalie used this series, sured up the net stopping 20 shots before letting the game-winner by.
After getting shutout in Game 4 and going scoreless it seemed like the Flyers might never light the lamp again. But, James van Riemsdyk and Andrej Meszaros scored in the second for the Fly Guys and Danny Briere put home the equalizer in the third.
"We can't hang our heads," Briere said. "We were in a worse position last year, so if there's a group of guys that can do it, I believe in this group here."
The series now heads back to Buffalo for Game 6 with the Flyers on the brink of elimination.
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