Knuble nets first two NHL goals, Flyers defeat Sabres
Bonk has two assists for Philadelphia in third straight win; Buffalo's four-game point streak ends
By Heather Engel
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
BUFFALO -- Cole Knuble scored his first two NHL goals, and the Philadelphia Flyers won their third straight game, 3-1 against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Wednesday.
Knuble, who made his NHL debut on Monday in a 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche, is the son of former NHL forward Mike Knuble, who played 338 of his 1,068 career games with Philadelphia.
His parents were in attendance at the game.
“I've put a lot of work in over the years,” said Knuble, who was drafted in the fourth round (No. 103) of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Flyers. “I'm confident in my abilities. It's obviously a jump up, best players in the world. I'm playing with really great teammates, too. Obviously those guys have been great for me.”
Trevor Zegras scored, and Oliver Bonk had two assists for the Flyers (3-6-3), who won their first road game of the season (1-4-1) and third straight overall. Dan Vladar made 27 saves.
“I'm proud of them because we’ve got a lot of guys out, and some guys are stepping up and getting more minutes,” Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said. “Getting to our game a little quicker. I thought the last three, four games we’ve played to our identity a little bit more and we're stacking some more shifts. It's a lot of positive stuff, and we know we still have a lot of work to do.”
Jason Zucker scored, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves for the Sabres (4-4-2), whose four-game point streak ended (2-0-2).
“We talked about missed nets, missed opportunities,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “I think we're, like, 31st or 32nd when it comes to missed nets. I thought we had some great looks in the first period, some good looks in the second period, too. I still think we missed the net too often. Our net-front coverage, again, we just handed them an easy goal. So, I mean, that was the two big things. They won the net battle for a couple goals. We didn’t.”
Knuble gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead at 14:49 of the first period. He cleaned up the rebound of Bonk’s point shot with a backhand from in front past Luukkonen’s right skate.
“I just went to the net. I saw a shot coming and it was just sitting there, so I just put it on my backhand,” Knuble said. “It was pretty cool that ‘Bonker’ and (Denver Barkey) were part of that. We've known each other for a few years, so it's fun.”
Zegras made it 2-0 on the power play at 19:17. Luukkonen went to his left to make the save on Matvei Michkov’s shot from the right circle, and Zegras was in front to bat the rebound out of midair and past Vladar.
Zucker, making his season debut after offseason sports hernia surgery, scored on the power play to cut it to 2-1 at 19:25 of the second period. Jack Quinn spotted him at the crease to Vladar’s left and put a feed toward the net that redirected off the shaft of Zucker’s stick.
“I think I was OK,” Zucker said of his first regular-season appearance. “I think I’ve got a lot better. I’m not very happy with it overall. I think part of it comes with just getting more time and more games and that. But I thought it was average for me.”
Knuble’s second of the game put the Flyers ahead 3-1 at 3:03 of the third period. After Buffalo defenseman Louis Crevier lost his stick in a puck battle, Knuble took a short pass from Bonk to the net and slipped it behind Luukkonen’s left leg.
“I think I can obviously play and help the team at this level, and I think I can bring energy, and I'll do whatever it takes to be a part of this group,” Knuble said.
NOTES: Knuble is the seventh Flyers rookie to record his first multigoal game in two or fewer games, and the first to do so since Vinny Prospal in 1996-97 (two games). … Michkov earned his 70th career assist, passing Bill Barber for seventh most by a Philadelphia player age 21 or younger. … Zucker played 12:16 with three shots on goal. … Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson played in his 300th career NHL game. … Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin played 26:27 of ice time and had four shots on goal in his return after missing the Sabres' past three games with an upper-body injury.
