PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers' 5-1 drubbing of the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday was more than just a win.

It was a celebration.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and centers R.J. Umberger and Nick Cousins all had banner games as a four-goal, second-period eruption carried Philadelphia to a dominating night at Wells Fargo Center.

"It's huge for us," Gostisbehere said. "Everyone pulling on the same side of the rope, having an explosion like that."

After a scoreless first period, the Flyers (24-20-9) poured it on in the middle stanza en route to snapping a three-game losing streak.

Five Flyers scored and nine collected at least a point, highlighted by Gostisbehere tying Philadelphia's franchise rookie point-streak record at 10 games, which also is the longest active streak in the NHL. Even better, Umberger got the rout started by snapping his 50-game goalless skid and Cousins finished it with his first career NHL marker.

"Definitely a goal I'll remember for a while," Cousins said.

The Sabres (21-28-6) received a third-period goal from left winger Jamie McGinn but lost their third straight and seventh in the past nine.

To rub salt in Buffalo's wound, rookie center Daniel Catenacci left the game late in the third period after taking a vicious hit from defenseman Radko Gudas, who was given a five-minute penalty for charging. He also fought twice.

"He's an idiot, that guy," Sabres left winger Marcus Foligno said of Gudas. "He gets his hits in and is dirty and has been known for it. Goes after a freakin' rookie who's been in three games and goes and gets right at his head. Wish I was on ice and could've done more damage to him."

Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma said he didn't have an update on Catenacci, who had his head down and did not see the hit coming from Gudas.

"Left the ice clearly shaken up," Bylsma said. "He's currently going through testing off ice.

"No question it's a head hit. He had two other guys on him and he stepped into him clearly. Don't think there's too much question about it."

Flyers goaltender Steve Mason (13-14-7), making his sixth start in 10 days, took the support and ran with it, making 41 saves.

After allowing four goals on 12 shots Tuesday before being yanked, Sabres goalie Robin Lehner (2-4-1) surrendered five more and stopped 23 shots Thursday.

The Flyers received an unusual spark from Umberger to open the floodgates 1:23 into the second period.

Umberger, who had gone over a full calendar year since his last goal (Jan. 27, 2015), raised his arms and looked toward the rafters in celebration after jumpstarting Philadelphia's onslaught.

"It was a little prayer to the hockey gods: 'Thank you,'" Umberger said with a laugh.

Less than a minute later, center Brayden Schenn padded the Flyers' advantage with a snap shot assisted by left winger Michael Raffl.

Right winger Wayne Simmonds followed suit at 8:33 as he deposited a huge rebound from the circle off a shot by Gostisbehere for his 20th goal.

With Gostisbehere's assist on the play, the 22-year-old tied Mikael Renberg's franchise rookie record set in 1993-94.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Gostisbehere became the first NHL rookie defenseman to record a 10-game point streak since the Colorado Rockies' Barry Beck did so twice in 1977-78.

"If you were telling me I was going to do this going into the season, I definitely would have said you were crazy," Gostisbehere said.

Raffl punctuated the prolific second period with a nice move and a goal at 15:57, handing Philadelphia a healthy 4-0 lead at the second intermission.

After McGinn cut the margin to 4-1 at 10:04 of the third, Cousins capped off the scoring with his first NHL goal 29 seconds later.

Remarkably, it was Umberger who led the Flyers' charge.

"I think the best part of it was how excited the teammates were for me -- probably more excited than I was," Umberger said. "That was pretty cool."

NOTES: The Flyers made a pair of changes, inserting C R.J. Umberger and C Jordan Weal into the lineup while sitting LW Matt Read and C Scott Laughton. Umberger was a healthy scratch the previous five games. Weal, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 6, appeared in just his second game with Philadelphia. ... Sabres RW Justin Bailey made his NHL debut after being called up Wednesday from AHL Rochester to replace C Zemgus Girgensons (lower body), who was put on injured reserve. Bailey, a 2013 second-round draft pick of the Sabres, had 10 goals and 13 assists in 47 games with Rochester. ... Flyers G Michal Neuvirth was activated off injured reserve before the game and backed up starting G Steve Mason. With Neuvirth back, G Anthony Stolarz was returned to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. ... Sabres standout rookie C Jack Eichel was in the lineup despite missing Wednesday's practice for maintenance reasons.