Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers Picks and Predictions April 17th 2025

Buffalo Sabres vs Philadelphia Flyers April 17th 2025

Planning on watching today’s Flyers and Sabres game? Catch the action at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, as the Sabres hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on NBCS. This Eastern conference matchup has an over/under of 6.5 goals, and the Sabres are favored by -1.5 goals vs. the Flyers.

Philadelphia vs. Buffalo Key Information

• Teams: Flyers at Sabres
• Where: KeyBank Center Buffalo
• Date: Thursday, April 17th
• Betting Odds BUF -144 | PHI +122 O/U 6.5

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The Flyers Can Win If…

With a 3-0 loss to the Bruins, the Flyers’ record dropped to 33-38-10. Philadelphia’s defense struggled throughout, allowing goals in each period, including an empty-netter in the third.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. As underdogs on the puck line, the Flyers didn’t cover. Philadelphia’s offense was held scoreless, managing only 20 shots on goal.

Philadelphia’s offense was blanked in their 3-0 loss to Boston, managing 20 shots on goal but failing to find the net. The Flyers gave the puck away 15 times and were shut out for the game.

Philadelphia was held scoreless in all three periods, and none of their players registered a goal or an assist in the contest.

On the defensive side, the Flyers allowed the first goal at 13:28 in the first period and another at 11:23 in the second. They conceded a final empty-netter at 16:21 in the third, leading to a 3-0 loss. Samuel Ersson recorded 8 saves with a 100% save percentage, while the defense added 5 takeaways and 30 hits.

• Across Philadelphia’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 1-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Flyers have gone 5-5 over their last ten regular season games. This includes going 5-5 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Sabres Can Win If…

With a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings, the Sabres fell to 35-39-7 on the season. Buffalo’s defense held Detroit scoreless in the first period, but the Red Wings responded with two unanswered goals in the second.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. As underdogs on the puck line, Buffalo failed to cover. Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ only goal, a short-handed effort in the first period.

Buffalo took 32 shots on goal but only managed to score once in their 2-1 loss to Detroit. Alex Tuch netted his 5th goal of the season on a shorthanded play, marking the Sabres’ only goal, which came 8:21 into the first period.

Buffalo had 13 giveaways and failed to score on any of their power play opportunities. Tuch led the team with 5 shots on goal.

Buffalo’s defense will look to bounce back after giving up two second-period goals to Detroit in their last game. Both goals came on the power play, and the Sabres had 8 penalty minutes as a team. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves, finishing with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Sabres have gone 0-3 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Sabres have gone 5-5 straight up. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 7-3, in addition to an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Sabres to take down the Flyers at home. With the moneyline currently at -144, I’m placing my bet on the Sabres straight-up.

For a puck line pick, we are going with the Sabres to win and cover. Look for the Sabres to win this one by multiple goals over the Flyers.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will remain below that figure, and we recommend wagering on the under.

Daily NHL Picks & Predictions

Two Struggling Franchises Meet with Draft Stakes on the Line

As the curtain closes on the 2024-25 NHL regular season, the final showdown between the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night isn’t just about pride — it’s about draft lottery positioning that could shape the future of both franchises.

Neither team is headed to the playoffs, but the stakes remain high. The outcome of this game could subtly yet significantly alter their odds in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, a key opportunity to land a franchise-changing talent.

Both Teams Coming Off Shutout Losses

The Sabres and Flyers are entering the season finale on a sour note:

• Buffalo was blanked 4-0 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, extending their winless streak to four games (0-3-1).
• Philadelphia suffered its eighth shutout of the season in a 3-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This puts both teams in the NHL’s bottom five, with Philadelphia (33-38-10, 76 points) sitting just one point behind Buffalo (35-39-7, 77 points).

Draft Lottery Impact: What’s at Stake?

With such slim margins in the standings, the result of this final game could shift the draft lottery order:

• A Flyers loss increases their odds of securing a higher pick.
• A Sabres win would worsen their draft odds, possibly bumping them down the lottery ladder.

Tied with the Bruins and Kraken, Philadelphia is in a tight race to maintain a bottom-five position, critical for lottery odds.

Player and Coach Perspectives: Disappointment Fuels Determination

Despite the stakes, the Flyers players aren’t focused on the draft. Goaltender Samuel Ersson, who made 31 saves in Tuesday’s loss, emphasized the team’s frustration with missing the playoffs:

“That’s why you work so hard… It stings not being there,” said Ersson. “We have lessons to learn — myself included. We have to let this feeling fuel us to do better.”

Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff echoed the sentiment, lamenting missed chances against Toronto:

“We were generating enough to win it… but we left too many chances on the ice,” Ruff stated.

Season Series: Flyers Dominating

Philadelphia has dominated the head-to-head matchup this season:

• November 16: Flyers won 5-2 at home
• March 29: Flyers triumphed 7-4

Rookie Matvei Michkov starred in both games, tallying four total points (2 goals, 2 assists). He enters the finale tied for the team lead with 24 goals, alongside Travis Konecny and Tyson Foerster.

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Coaching Shift: Flyers Improving Under Brad Shaw

Since the transition to interim head coach Brad Shaw, the Flyers have shown flashes of improvement, going 5-2-1 under his leadership. However, Shaw was candid after the loss to Columbus:

“We were easier to play against tonight… We started strong but couldn’t sustain it.”

Final Thoughts: Pride vs. Positioning

While the players remain committed to competing hard, fans and front offices are acutely aware of the draft implications. The final result could sway lottery odds and potentially dictate who gets the opportunity to draft a top-tier prospect in 2025.

No playoffs? No problem. For the Sabres and Flyers, this game might just be the first step toward a brighter future.