Jack Eichel scored twice for the Sabres on Monday, matching a career-high with 25 goals, but the Oilers got the last laugh in a 4-3 win over Buffalo at KeyBank Center. Trailing 3-1 late in the second period, Edmonton received scoring from Zack Kassian, Darnell Nurse and Kyle Brodziak to storm back and take the lead for good.
A delay of game penalty in the first minute of regulation sent the Sabres to an early power play, but it was Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers who struck first. Connor McDavid led a shorthanded 2-on-1 break and fed the puck to Draisaitl, who promptly netted his team-leading 41st goal. Only 74-seconds later, Buffalo converted with the man advantage thanks to Eichel. The Sabres' captain stepped around Adam Larsson in the far faceoff circle and beat Mikko Koskinen cleanly, tying the game 1-1.
Casey Mittelstadt gave Buffalo the lead at 13:29 of the first, taking a Scott Wilson pass from behind the net and ripping it by Koskinen for his 10th of the year. Eichel struck again a little less than four minutes later, electing to shoot the puck on a 3-on-1 break. Eichel's shot found nothing but net for his sixth goal in five games and 25th of the year, matching a career high.
Buffalo enjoyed its two-goal lead for most of the second period, but the Oilers swarmed the Sabres with three goals over the final 3:31 of the frame. Zack Kassian got Edmonton's comeback started with a one-timer from the far faceoff circle off a pass from McDavid. The Oilers made it 3-3 moments later when Draisaitl dug the puck out along the boards, beating Rasmus Ristolainen and Marco Scandella, and found Nurse all alone in the slot. Edmonton capped its rally with a Kyle Brodziak deflection with only five seconds remaining on the clock.
Jason Pominville, left all alone beside a wide-open net, nearly tied it late in the third. Swiping away at the puck, however, Pominville's chance deflected off his own stick on the follow-through and never crossed the line. Buffalo finished the game with a flurry of chances, but couldn't cash in, sending the team to its fourth defeat in five games.
GAME SUMMARY
Goal Summary:
First Period:
EDM: 1:28 - Leon Draisaitl (41) SHG (Connor McDavid, Darnell Nurse)BUF: 2:42 - Jack Eichel (24) PPG (Rasmus Ristolainen, Jeff Skinner); 13:29 - Casey Mittelstadt (10) (Scott Wilson, Jason Pominville); 17:24 - Jack Eichel (25) (Unassisted)
Second Period:
EDM: 16:29 - Zack Kassian (11) (Connor McDavid, Kris Russell); 18:46 - Darnell Nurse (8) (Leon Draisaitl, Sam Gagner); 19:55- Kyle Brodziak (5) (Adam Larsson, Milan Lucic)BUF: NONE
Third Period:
EDM: NONEBUF: NONE
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
EDM: 0:58 - Alex Chiasson (Delay of game - 2 min.)BUF: NONE
Second Period:
EDM: 11:24 - Oscar Klefbom (High sticking - 2 min.)BUF: 5:58 - Marco Scandella (Delay of game - 2 min.)
Third Period:
EDM: 19:14 - Leon Draisaitl (Interference - 2 min.)BUF: 19:57 - Jeff Skinner (Holding the stick - 2 min.)
Shots on Goal:
EDM: 27 (7, 13, 7)BUF: 38 (14,12, 12)
Goalies:
EDM: Mikko Koskinen - 35 savesBUF: Linus Ullmark - 16 saves; Carter Hutton - 7 saves
Power Plays:
EDM: 0 for 1 (0%)BUF: 1 for 3 (33.3%)
Three Stars:
- Jack Eichel - BUF
- Darnell Nurse - EDM
- Connor McDavid - EDM
What's Next:
The Sabres look for their first win away from home since January 29 when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. Faceoff at United Center is set for 8:30 p.m. on WGR 550 with pre-game coverage starting at 7:30 p.m.
