(My Sportsbook) - It's fair to say the Flyers escaped a few close shaves while opening the season on a 3-0-2 tear. There were the two third-period collapses that led to ties with the Oilers and Islanders, and the final-frame comeback that was needed in a 5-4 victory over Calgary.

In other words, Philly's first five games were hardly perfect as it hung with Tampa Bay amongst the ranks of the league's unbeaten.

Well, things finally caught up to Ken Hitchcock's crew Tuesday night in Buffalo, where the Flyers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Sabres at HSBC Arena. The formula for the loss was simple, as a Flyer defenseman's failure to clear the defensive zone directly led to both Buffalo goals, including Miroslav Satan's game-winner midway through the third period.

"We did not play a complete game," Hitchcock said. "We tried to get away with some things."

Defenseman Eric Weinrich tallied Philadelphia's lone goal, converting a power play 8:13 into the second to tie things at 1-1, but he also committed the play 8:13 into the second to tie things at 1-1, but he also committed the crucial turnover that led to Satan's marker. The veteran rearguard skated back into his own end and tried to outlet a pass to partner Kim Johnsson, who was heading up ice. Weinrich fanned on the pass and Satan stole the puck, skated in and wristed a shot through the legs of goaltender Roman Cechmanek.

"I probably should have gone off the boards behind me," Weinrich told the "I probably should have gone off the boards behind me," Weinrich told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "[Johnsson] was the only guy open. I did not make a good pass in a dangerous area. Nine times out of 10, I make the same play and Johnsson gets the puck.

"Satan is a good player. I've got to know when he is on the ice."

Satan's goal ruined a solid outing by Cechmanek, who finished with 29 saves after yielding Saturday to backup Robert Esche. The Czech made several key stops in the first period to keep the Sabres off the board. He and Buffalo's Martin Biron, who halted 21 shots himself, enjoyed a nice duel until the third period, when Biron's club held a 13-6 advantage in shots.

"We knew we had to be ready for this hockey game because they would have a snarl on," captain Keith Primeau said. "For whatever reason, that 20 minutes, they completely outplayed us. We were better in the second period. In the third period, we made too many mistakes -- too many high-risk plays at both blue lines."

Philadelphia has now dropped five consecutive games against the Sabres, and has not won at HSBC Arena since April 8, 2001, the final game of the 2000-01 season.

UP NEXT

The Flyers try to get back on the winning track on Thursday when they welcome the Montreal Canadiens to the First Union Center. The club plays four of its next five games overall on home ice, with the lone exception being Saturday's match on Long Island.