Flyers Earns First Victory by Keeping Sabres Winless

It took them seven games, but the Philadelphia Flyers are in the win column, something Buffalo can’t say yet.

The Flyers overcame a second-period defensive lapse when they allowed two goals in a span of one minute 17 seconds by scoring three goals in the third period to defeat the winless Buffalo Sabres, 5-2, Sunday night at Philadelphia.

Eric Lindros and Valeri Zelepukin scored 21 seconds apart in the third period before Eric Desjardins netted his first goal of the year to end Philadelphia’s franchise-worst 0-5-1 start.

“We were playing some good hockey and not getting wins, for one reason or another it was not happening,” Lindros said. “Everything gets magnified because it is the start of the season.”

The Sabres are now 0-4-2, their worst start since going 0-4-3 in 1990-91.

N.Y. Rangers 4, Atlanta 1--Mike Richter made 30 saves in his first game since missing five because of a back injury and Theo Fleury scored two goals to give the Rangers a victory over the Thrashers at New York, their fourth victory in their last five games.