The Philadelphia Flyers have begun to turn their 2026-27 season around, following nine consecutive losses with three straight victories, the latest a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Wednesday night.

Rookie Cole Knuble was the hero in Western New York, scoring his first two career goals in just his second NHL game. In the process, he became the first Flyers player in 30 years to record a multi-goal performance within his first two career contests, per NHL.com.

He's the seventh player in franchise history to do so, and the first since Vinny Prospal in 1996-97.

Knuble is the son of longtime NHLer Mike Knuble, who skated in 1,068 career contests, including 338 with the Flyers. He was in attendance to watch his son score twice.

“I've put a lot of work in over the years,” Cole Knuble told reporters afterwards, per NHL.com's Heather Engel. “I'm confident in my abilities. It's obviously a jump up, best players in the world. I'm playing with really great teammates, too. Obviously those guys have been great for me.”

Knuble opened the scoring late in the first period, collecting a rebound from an Oliver Bonk shot and finishing with a backhand move past Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

With Philadelphia leading 2-1 early in the third, he banked the puck off Luukkonen's left leg from behind the net to give the Flyers a critical insurance goal.

COLE KNUBLE HAS HIS 1ST AND 2ND CAREER NHL GOALS TONIGHT 🔥

And his parents in the stands are LOVING it 🥹 pic.twitter.com/JFxgt0VMaN

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 22, 2026

“I think I can obviously play and help the team at this level, and I think I can bring energy, and I'll do whatever it takes to be a part of this group,” Knuble added.

Article Continues Below

Selected in the fourth round, No. 103 overall, of the 2023 NHL Draft, Knuble spent three seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

He produced at close to a point-per-game pace during his tenure in Indiana before finishing the 2025-26 campaign with the American Hockey League's Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Knuble made an impact during that brief professional stint, recording a goal and two assists in seven games. He began this season with the Phantoms and earned his NHL call-up after posting four points in six contests.

Knuble appears to have earned a longer look in Philadelphia, and he should be in the lineup when the Flyers try to make it four straight wins against the visiting Anaheim Ducks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday night.