Edmonton, Alberta (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres had a chance to split theier Western Conference four-game road trip with a win in Edmonton on Saturday over the Oilers.
However, the Sabres only ever trailed at the end of the contest, as the Oilers hung on to win, 3-2, at Rogers Place.
Both teams found the back of the net once in opening period in Edmonton.
It was the Sabres who opened the scoring with 3:32 left in the frame, as Alex Tuch let go of a snapshot from in-close to give Buffalo the first lead of the game.
In concerning fashion, though, the team's trend of immediately coughing up a lead reared its ugly head just 17 seconds later. Former Sabres forward Jeff Skinner was left all alone in front of James Reimer, and put home a rebound to tie the score at 1-1.
The Sabres dominated play to start the second period, especially the first eight minutes. One of the team's 13 shots in that timespan found the back of the net.
Just as a power play opportunity expired for Buffalo, Owen Power located Jiri Kulich on his off-wing, and the Sabres forward blasted the go-ahead goal to make it 2-1, Sabres.
Edmonton answered back about six minutes later, though.
Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen put the moves on to the right of Reimer, and skated behind the goal before putting the puck on the net. A rebound leaked out for forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who made it all even again at 2-2.
In the third period, with 11 minutes left in regulation, the Sabres allowed the go-ahead goal. It was the first time the team trailed on the scoreboard all afternoon.
After dishing a pass for his defensemen to re-position, Nugent-Hopkins crept down the slot and accepted the puck from Darnell Nurse. Nugent-Hopkins fired home his second goal of the game, and gave Edmonton the 3-2 edge.
That goal proved to be the eventual game-winner.
For a moment, it appeared as if the Sabres tied the game later on, but what would've been Kulich's second goal of the contest was overturned by review. Officials determined the puck was kicked into the net behind netminder Stuart Skinner.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 16:28 - Alex Tuch (16) (Jason Zucker, Jacob Bryson)
EDM: 16:45 - Jeff Skinner (8) (Ty Emberson)
Second Period:
BUF: 7:46 - Jiri Kulich (9) (Owen Power, Dylan Cozens)
EDM: 13:20 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (14) (Kasperi Kapanen, Mattias Ekholm)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
EDM: 8:59 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (15) (Darnell Nurse, Evan Bouchard)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Stuart Skinner - EDM
2.) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - EDM
3.) Jiri Kulich - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres return home on Tuesday night to hosts the Boston Bruins for the start of a four-game homestand at KeyBank Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.