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Sabres-Flyers Preview

Nov 26, 2009 - 8:07 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Buffalo (12-7-2) at Philadelphia (13-8-1), 1:00 p.m. EDT

Without one of their leading goal scorers, the Philadelphia Flyers were able to piece together enough offense to snap their losing streak.

Looking for a similar performance as Danny Briere completes his suspension, the Flyers try to win for the sixth time in seven home games Friday in a matchup with the struggling Buffalo Sabres.

After Briere was handed a two-game suspension by the league for a late hit in Monday's 5-4 loss at Colorado, the Flyers (13-8-1) rallied for a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday to end their three-game slide.

"It was a big game all-around by everybody," said Scott Hartnell, who delivered the game-winner with 5:27 left off an assist from Jeff Carter.

Without Briere, who led the team with 10 goals heading into the game, the Flyers did not score until Mike Richards' power-play goal - his 10th of the season - with 33.8 seconds left in the second period.

Philadelphia was outshot 28-17 in the first two periods, but Flyers backup Brian Boucher delivered one of his best performances of the season, making 28 saves in his third start.

Philadelphia had an 11-1 shots advantage in the final 20 minutes, capping a 2-3-0 trip.

"Two-for-5 (on the trip) is not the greatest, but it's nice to get the win against a division opponent and go back home on a high note," said Richards, who had an assist in the Flyers' 3-2 loss to visiting Buffalo on Nov. 14.

That is Philadelphia's only defeat in its last six home games.

The Sabres (12-7-2) are 0-3-1 since that game, including Wednesday's 2-0 loss at Washington.

Buffalo, among the league's lowest-scoring teams at 2.48 goals per game, has been outscored 15-6 during its four-game skid despite outshooting opponents 120-100.

"As a team, we're having a tough time finding the back of the net," Sabres forward Jason Pominville said Wednesday after firing a team-high four shots. "That's when you have to dig deeper and get those ugly goals and just outwork them around the crease. I just don't think we're doing a good enough job at it so far."

The Sabres look to avoid their first five-game slide since Nov. 14-22, 2008, as they close a three-game trip.

Ryan Miller leads the NHL with a 1.98 goals-against average, but he is 0-2-1 with a 3.01 GAA in his last three starts.

Miller, who made 29 saves Nov. 14 when Buffalo snapped a five-game skid to Philadelphia, gave up four goals in a 5-2 loss to the visiting Flyers on Nov. 6.

If Boucher doesn't start again, Ray Emery will look to improve upon his 11-5-1 career mark versus the Sabres. Emery went 0-2-0 with a 4.86 GAA in three starts on the road trip, but he's 6-1-0 with a 1.56 GAA in his last seven home starts.