Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) – The Buffalo Sabres put together a pretty solid effort on Monday, and it resulted in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Tage Thompson scored two goals for Buffalo, so for that reason, he was picked the No. 1 star of the game.
However, it was goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who was totally on his game, and made numerous big saves in all three periods. The Sabres simply don’t win that game if he doesn’t make some of the great saves he did, especially on the NHL’s leading goal scorer Leon Draisaitl.
Luukkonen stopped 32 pucks, and was perfect with 12 saves in the third period with Buffalo was protecting a one-goal lead.
Anytime you play against Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, you know they are going to get some chances, and they did. But there were other times when former Oilers center Ryan McLeod used his speed to take time and space away from McDavid.
McLeod also had a key assist against his former teammates, as he came down the left wing side and found Alex Tuch flying down the slot to net his 25th goal of the season.
Buffalo put the game in Luukkonen’s hands early, but they got their legs as the first period wore on. Thompson showed great effort on the game's opening goal by picking up his own rebound to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead.
The Sabres gave up a power play goal on their first attempt, but did a good job of killing off three penalties after that, which contributed to the win.
Newly acquired center Josh Norris spent 2:31 on the penalty kill, and I thought did a really nice job. He also made a hustle play to outwork the Oilers defense, get to a puck first and find Thompson, who was open to take the puck to the net. Thompson then stayed patient to easily beat Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner.
Buffalo had to defend about a two-and-a-half minute 6-on-5 and it did a good job. They stayed aggressive, didn’t allow second and third opportunities after Luukkonen made a save and preserved the win.
It’s another example of the game this team is capable of playing, but they just don’t do it enough.
Buffalo broke a-six game winless streak.
Tuch has goals in six of his last eight games and eight of his last 11 games, with nine goals in those 11 contests.
Thompson has five goals in five games and 14 goals in 17 games. Those 14 goals lead the NHL in that time period.