Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/16/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY

Where to watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, MSG-B

DraftKings: Sabres -155, Flyers +130

BetMGM: Sabres -145, Flyers +120

Caesars: Sabres -141, Flyers +120

Flyers: 23-40-11

Sabres: 27-38-11

The Owen Power Show is in full effect in Buffalo and it’s off to a roaring start.

Last year’s No. 1 overall pick is playing NHL games, and the future of the blue line has never been brighter for the Buffalo Sabres. Even if that means it comes at the expense of a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Power recorded his first NHL assist on a goal by Alex Tuch and things have never looked so exciting in Buffalo.

The Sabres will try and get back into the win column, and it could be a big night for Power, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday in Buffalo. Going against one of the worst teams in the league is a good way to show off the minute dominance from a team that is certainly  better despite just four more wins.

But given how Power has come in with a lot of confidence to fit right in with that group, it’s going to be a good time for Buffalo in these final few games. The Sabres are establishing building blocks for the future, and Power is certainly one of them.

"I was real happy with our guys' effort," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "I was happy with our guys' execution for the most part to create chances. And it's one of those games that you lose and you actually feel bad for your guys. They were dialed in and they put forth a great effort. And you're disappointed that they didn't get rewarded more for the effort and some of the execution. It happens. That's life sometimes. In the end, you walk in the locker room and you know you have a group of guys that are just [ticked] off they didn't win, and that feels good as a coach. They don't feel like they're overwhelmed. They just feel like they can take charge and I like that."

Taking charge in this kind of situation is going to be something to watch for next season. The Sabres have the kind of group that can make a playoff push, but it’s going to come down to the likes of Tuch, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin to take that next step. Even without Jack Eichel, this group has something to look forward to.

The Flyers, on the other hand, do not and the end to their season can’t come soon enough. Philly has lost three straight and has been outscored 18-5 during this losing streak. If the Flyers could elect to not play hockey any more going forward, that might be best for everyone involved, including their fans.

Philadelphia is coming off a 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers, one day after losing 9-2 in Washington to the Capitals.

"I thought we had a good start," Philadelphia forward Scott Laughton said. "Some pretty good pace and then obviously we had a couple lapses. It happened in the Washington game a little bit more. We had a couple lapses and gave a couple of their guys some looks. ... Thought we were better than last night, but when you don't get results it is frustrating."

That’s been their mantra all year, is no results. Thank goodness this pain doesn’t have to go any further.

Not even just a game prediction: I think Power scores his first NHL goal and Tuch adds two more, because this game needs to be put away by midway through the first for the sake of everyone involved. Just wrap this game up and be done with it. Sabres win 5-1

Flyers are 4-20 this season after a division game.

Sabres are 20-38 following a non-conference games the past three seasons.

Flyers:

Joel Farabee -- Kevin Hayes -- Travis Konecny

Noah Cates -- Scott Laughton -- Owen Tippett

James van Riemsdyk -- Morgan Frost -- Bobby Brink

Oskar Lindblom -- Tanner Laczynski -- Zack MacEwen

Ivan Provorov -- Travis Sanheim

Egor Zamula -- Kevin Connauton

Keith Yandle -- Ronnie Attard

Martin Jones

Sabres:

Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Alex Tuch

Rasmus Asplund -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Victor Olofsson

Vinnie Hinostroza -- Dylan Cozens -- John Hayden

Zemgus Girgensons -- Peyton Krebs -- Kyle Okposo

Jacob Bryson -- Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power -- Henri Jokiharju

Will Butcher -- Casey Fitzgerald

Craig Anderson

Points: Cam Atkinson -- 50

Goals: Cam Atkinson -- 23

Assists: Travis Konecny -- 32

Goalie: Carter Hart -- 13-24-7, 3.16 GAA, .905 SV%

Points: Tage Thompson -- 60

Goals: Tage Thompson -- 33

Assists: Rasmus Dahlin -- 36

Goalie: Craig Anderson -- 15-12-2, 3.16 GAA, .897 SV%