Struggling Sabres look to snap slide

Philadelphia (7-6-4) at Buffalo (9-6-3), 7:30 p.m. EST

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Sabres' fast start is
just a distant memory.

Buffalo hopes to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts
the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday.

After winning their first four games and starting 6-0-1, the
Sabres have three wins in their last 11 contests.

Thomas Vanek tallied twice - bringing his team-leading total to
15 goals - and added an assist in the first 12:37 Wednesday, but
Buffalo ended up losing, 7-4, at Boston.

Defense has been a problem lately for the Sabres, who have
allowed 18 goals in the last three games. Goaltender Ryan
Miller surrendered all seven on 20 shots in the loss to Boston
and has allowed 22 over his last five starts. The struggles
come on the heels of back-to-back shutouts.

The Flyers are 3-0-1 in their last four and are coming off a 4-3
victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Sunday.

Simon Gagne had a goal and two assists and Mike Knuble had a
goal and one assist for the Flyers, who are averaging 3.41 goals
per game.

Buffalo won three of the four meetings last season.