Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009

Buffalo Sabres (11-4-1) at Philadelphia Flyers (10-4-1), 7 p.m.

The Philadelphia Flyers will try for their sixth straight win when they host the Buffalo Sabres for this evening's clash at the Wachovia Center.

The Flyers are in the midst of their longest winning streak of the year and a victory tonight would match Philadelphia's best stretch of last season when it won six in a row from November 15-26.

Philadelphia is also playing the third test on a four-game homestand tonight and is 7-2-1 as the host this year. The Flyers will complete the residency Monday against the rival New Jersey Devils, who have a 9-0-0 road record and are the only team left in the NHL without a loss away from home this year.

The Flyers earned an easy victory Thursday against the Ottawa Senators and Ray Emery's first start against his former team was an uneventful affair, as he stopped 22 shots to lead Philadelphia past the Sens, 5-1.

"There was more urgency to win for Ray," said Flyers head coach John Stevens. "It was just another game for him, I didn't see any anxiety before the game or anything to tell me he was less than focused."

Emery played with the Sens from 2002-08 and backstopped the club to a 2007 Stanley Cup Finals appearance before being released from his contract following the 2007-08 season. The 27-year-old spent last season in Russia after no NHL club offered him a deal.

In Danny Briere's first game back from a four-game absence with a quad muscle injury, he notched a pair of goals for the Flyers. Blair Betts, James van Riemsdyk and Darroll Powe also scored for the victors.

Jeff Carter, Kimmo Timonen and Chris Pronger each added two assists for the Flyers and Pronger extended his point streak to five games.

The Sabres come into tonight off back-to-back home wins, as they recorded a 3-1 victory Wednesday over Edmonton and edged Calgary by a 2-1 count on Friday. The win over the Flames came via the shootout as Jason Pominville delivered the winning goal in the decisive segment.

Derek Roy scored the equalizer in regulation for Buffalo, which remained undefeated against the Western Conference this season (5-0-0).

Ryan Miller was solid with 25 saves and improved to 11-2-1 on the season. Buffalo's durable netminder is 7-6-1 with a 2.91 goals-against average in 15 career games against the Flyers.

Sabres winger Mike Grier missed Friday's game with a groin injury and is questionable for tonight's test. Grier has three goals on the year.

Buffalo is 4-2-0 as the guest this year, but has dropped its last two road tilts.

The Flyers pounded the Sabres, 5-2, in western New York on November 6 and have taken five straight and six of seven overall in the series. Buffalo has dropped its last two games in the City of Brotherly Love, but still has five victories in its last eight trips to the Wachovia Center.