Flyers Lose to Sabres 5-3

The Buffalo Sabres scored three times in the second period to tie the game and Jason Pominville scored the winner in the third for a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday.

The Eastern Conference-leading Flyers have lost three straight games for the first time since Nov. 26-Dec. 1. Their last two losses have come against Toronto and the Sabres, two teams fewer than five points out of the final playoff spot in the East.

Drew Stafford, Tyler Ennis and Andrej Sekera scored three straight goals in the second to put the Sabres ahead. Ryan Miller bounced back from a shaky first period to stop 33 shots. Nathan Gerbe added an empty-netter late in the third.

Kris Versteeg, James van Riemsdyk and Kimmo Timonen scored for the Flyers.

The slumping Flyers, who have cruised atop the East for most of the season, haven't been able to match the desperation of the teams fighting for a playoff berth.

Thomas Vanek set up the winner when he fed a perfect line drive pass to a streaking Pominville, who tapped the puck behind goalie Sergei Bobrovsky 6:37 into the third for a 4-3 lead.

Miller held off the Flyers from there to keep the Sabres' postseason hopes not only alive, but have them feeling good about a possible playoff matchup with the Flyers.

Buffalo shook off a 2-0 hole and stormed back in the second period with three goals in 3:40 to take the lead.

Stafford spoiled the latest chance for the Flyers to get their first shutout of the season when he scored his 25th goal. Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger had just stepped out of the penalty box to end Buffalo's power-play opportunity.

The Sabres tied it at 2-all on an odd goal. Ennis was deep in the corner behind the goal line, tossed the puck toward the net and it somehow slipped past Bobrovsky for his 14th goal. Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta was on his back and Flyers defenseman Sean O'Donnell stood on the crease, watching helplessly as the puck trickled by.

No luck needed on the third goal _ just gritty effort. Sekera was stopped twice, corralled the second rebound, scooted behind the net and beat Bobrovsky on a wraparound for a 3-2 lead.

Buffalo fans clustered in the upper deck started a booming chant for their team, that was quickly drowned out by some Philly fan boos.

Timonen gave the orange-and-black faithful a reason to cheer. Braydon Coburn flipped a puck from along the boards to a wide-open Timonen in front of the net, who punched in his 100th career goal.

The Flyers had lost two straight games for the first time since late December and saw their lead in the Eastern Conference standings whittled to only three points.

They responded with a fiery first period in which they killed Buffalo's two-man advantage and Bobrovsky stopped nine shots.

Versteeg, who two goals in Thursday's loss vs. Toronto, made it 1-0 with an early power-play goal. Van Riemsdyk beat Miller on a backhander for a 2-0 lead and the Flyers' funk seemed behind them.

The Sabres had other ideas - and the Flyers hope to rebound Sunday against the Rangers.