Philadelphia Flyers vs Buffalo Sabres: NHL regular season finale – April 17th showdown

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 17, 2025, 20:26 IST

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The Philadelphia Flyers face the Buffalo Sabres on April 17th in the NHL regular season finale. Both teams are out of playoff contention, but will aim to end the season on a positive note. With Buffalo’s stronger home record and offensive firepower, they’re favored to win. Key players include Flyers’ Ersson and Sabres’ Luukkonen.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Buffalo Sabres: NHL regular season finale – April 17th showdown

Flyers and Sabres face off April 17 to close the season with one final statement (Image via: Getty Images)

The final game of the NHL regular season kicks off on Thursday, April 17th at 7 p.m. ET, as the Philadelphia Flyers travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres. With neither team securing a playoff spot, this game marks the end of another challenging year for both sides, but they’ll still be fighting for pride and a chance to end the season on a high note.

Flyers and Sabres look to finish strong

NHL Highlights | Sabres vs. Flyers - March 29, 2025

Philadelphia (33-38-10) is reeling from a 3-0 loss to Columbus and will be eager to shake off their recent struggles. Despite standout performances from forwards like Travis Konecny (75 points) and Matvei Michkov (60 points), the Flyers have been inconsistent all year, especially defensively, allowing an average of 3.43 goals per game. With little to play for except finishing on a positive note, the Flyers will need to find their rhythm on the road to avoid another disappointing result.

Buffalo (35-39-7) faces a similar situation after a 4-0 loss to Toronto. With an offense that has been firing on all cylinders (3.2 goals per game), led by Tage Thompson (72 points) and Rasmus Dahlin (68 points), the Sabres have shown they can compete, but defensive issues (3.49 goals allowed per game) have cost them all season. Despite their record, Buffalo has been more solid at home (22-15-3) and will look to finish strong in front of their crowd.

Players to watch and matchup preview

For Philadelphia, goaltender Samuel Ersson is expected to get the start. His record of 22-17-5 with a 3.14 GAA and .883 SV% doesn’t fully capture his potential, as he’s been impressive in his limited career against Buffalo (3-1, 1.83 GAA, .913 SV%).
Buffalo counters with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has a 24-24-5 record and 3.20 GAA. While Luukkonen has struggled against the Flyers (3.80 GAA, .886 SV%), he will be looking to end his season on a positive note, especially at home.

Final prediction and betting insight

With both teams playing out the string, Buffalo holds the edge with the home-ice advantage and their offensive firepower. Look for the Sabres to outscore the Flyers and finish the season with a win.
Prediction: Sabres 4, Flyers 2
Betting Tips:
Buffalo Moneyline (-142)
Under 6.5 goals (-120)
Also Read: Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings (April 17): Final regular season clash sets tone for Toronto’s playoff drive
This final matchup may lack playoff implications, but it promises to deliver some thrilling action as both teams look to close out their seasons on a high.

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About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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