<p>BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Flyers placed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere on waivers on Tuesday, a surprising move that comes as Philadelphia is attempting to stay in the playoff hunt.</p>
<p>Gostisbehere has five goals and six assists for 11 points in 25 games, and he was benched for a three-game stretch two weeks ago. He produced three assists in five games since returning to action.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old’s production has dropped off since scoring 13 goals and adding 52 assists for a career-best 65 points in 78 games in 2017-18. Gostisbehere has managed just 19 goals and 59 points in his last 145 games.</p>
<p>Selected in the third-round by the Flyers out of Union College, Gostisbehere was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team in 2016 after scoring a career-high 17 goals.</p>
<p>He is in the fourth year of a six-year, $27 million contract and represents a $4.5 million salary cap hit.</p>
<p>The move comes a day after the Flyers rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-flyers-pittsburgh-nhl-philadelphia-sean-couturier-117a69195beb02c7317cf904d0412a56">4-3 overtime win at Buffalo</a> and extended the Sabres’ winless skid to 18 games — matching the NHL’s longest in 17 years.</p>
<p>Gostisbehere registered no points and finished fourth among Flyers defensemen with 19:35 of ice time.</p>
<p>The teams complete a two-game series on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Philadelphia improved to 6-9-1 in its past 16 games and won back-to-back for the first time since a three-game winning streak from Feb. 24-28.</p>
<p>At 17-13-4, the Flyers began Tuesday in fifth place in the East standings, a point behind Boston in the race for division’s final playoff spot.</p>
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