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Flyers host Sabres in pivotal Game 5

Apr 22, 2011 - 3:26 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Flyers will try to get their offense going tonight when they host the Buffalo Sabres in a pivotal Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

The Flyers and Sabres are tied at two games apiece in this best-of-seven series and both of Philadelphia's losses came in 1-0 setbacks in Games 1 and 4.

However, the second-seeded Flyers did combine for nine goals over the second and third games of this series and would like to regain that scoring touch in tonight's home game.

Of course, Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller has something to say about that as last year's Vezina Trophy winner had been largely responsible for Philadelphia's frustrating losses in this set. Miller made 32 saves in the Sabres' 1-0 win on Wednesday, giving him three career postseason shutouts -- all against the Flyers.

"It's always frustrating when you lose a game 1-0, but I think we did a good job of getting pucks to the net and keeping up pressure," noted Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette. "Offensively I thought we had the game in our hands but just didn't convert. I think our defense also did a good job."

The Flyers are hoping to get defenseman Chris Pronger back tonight, but Jeff Carter, who was the club's leading goal-scorer during the regular season, is out for Game 5 with a sprained right knee suffered in Wednesday's loss. It's unclear how much time Carter, who had 36 goals this year, will miss.

Pronger, meanwhile, could finally return tonight from surgery to repair his fractured right hand. The former Hart Trophy winner hasn't played since March 8 and will be a game-time decision for tonight.

Miller, meanwhile, hopes he can turn in a repeat performance of Game 4 after getting mixed results in Games 1 and 2 in Philly. He posted the shutout in the opener before surrendering five goals on 34 shots in the second test.

On Wednesday night, however, Miller was terrific, stopping 11 shots in the first and third periods and making 10 saves in the second.

"He was excellent, just excellent. There wasn't a time when he didn't come up with some big saves for us," said Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff of his star goaltender.

Jason Pominville's first-period tally was the only goal Buffalo needed. The tally was Pominville's first goal of the series and third point.

Brian Boucher made 28 stops for the Flyers, who went 0-for-3 on the power play and are just 1-for-15 on the man advantage in this series.

The Flyers have never lost a series in which they led the Sabres at any point and Philly has taken five of its eight all-time playoff series against Buffalo.

Philly is 17-2 all-time in a series when taking a 3-2 lead.

Philadelphia was 22-12-7 as the host this season, while the Sabres were 22-13-6 as the visiting team. Buffalo will host Sunday's Game 6 encounter at HSBC Arena.

Buffalo defenseman Shaone Morrisonn is questionable for tonight's test with an upper body injury. He has sat out three games since suffering the injury in Game 1.

Sabres forward Derek Roy is said to be nearing a return from a torn left quadriceps tendon that has kept him out of action since late December, but he is not expected to play tonight.

With Carter out, the Flyers hope to get forward Andreas Nodl back from an upper body injury. If Nodl unable is to play then rookie Ben Holmstrom could get the call.