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Flyers-Sabres: Game 7 recap

Score: Flyers 5, Sabres 2 How it happened: The Flyers got a fortunate break on their first goal and rode the momentum to their best performance of the series, giving them a 4-3 series win.

Score: Flyers 5, Sabres 2

How it happened: The Flyers got a fortunate break on their first goal and rode the momentum to their best performance of the series, giving them a 4-3 series win.

Heroes: Danny Briere was the best player on the ice throughout the night. He won the faceoff that led directly to the Flyers' first goal. Then he won a faceoff and scored the second goal. Brian Boucher stopped 26 shots, including a few to end the second period while Buffalo was on a power play.

Goats: Buffalo's Mike Grier inadvertently deflected the puck past his own goaltender on the Flyers' first goal, by Braydon Coburn. The goal seemed to zap the mojo off Ryan Miller, who had his worst game of the series and was yanked early in the third period.

Best sign: "Lindy? That's my mom's name." Runner-up: "Cryin' Miller."

Did you notice? Briere playfully tapped Miller on the helmet right after Coburn's goal. The two are friends from their days in Buffalo, and the gesture was more like a needle a big brother would give his younger sibling.

Power back on: The Flyers scored on their first two power-play attempts after being dismal on the man advantage during the series. They entered the game 3-for-31 and 1-for-20 at home in the first six games.

Best shot: Mike Weber's punch to Dan Carcillo's chops after a whistle in the first period. The Sabres defenseman is lucky he wasn't penalized. Miller also was lucky the zebras looked the other way after throwing a haymaker at Carcillo.

What's next: The Flyers will have home ice in the next round, but won't know whom they are playing until after tonight's Game 7s. If Boston beats Montreal, the Flyers will play the Bruins. If Montreal beats Boston, the Flyers will play the winner of the Tampa Bay-Pittsburgh game. Two Game 7s on the same night. Playoff hockey is tremendous.

Did you know? The Flyers are 6-2 in the series that followed Game 7 wins.