Eichel gets better of McDavid, Oilers
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — After spending much of the past two weeks talking about playing a complete game, Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres finally came out and proved they could put their words into action.
Eichel scored what proved to be gamewinning goal in the opening minute of the third period, Robin Lehner stopped 29 shots and the Sabres snapped an 0-5-2 skid with a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.
“Seeing the way we could play tonight, I think more than anything it should be a bit of a boost to everyone in the room, a little confidence,” Eichel said. “When we play the right way, it’s rewarding.”
Jacob Josefson scored the opening goal and Kyle Okposo sealed the victory with an empty-netter in a game where the Sabres outshot the Oilers 24-15 through two periods. The only blemish came with 20 seconds left, when Yohann Auvitu snapped a shot inside the left post to end Lehner’s shutout bid.
Buffalo bounced back from various meltdowns and slow starts to win its first game since a 3-1 victory over Washington on Nov. 7.
The Oilers’ inconsistencies continued by failing to build off a 6-2 win at Detroit on Wednesday. Edmonton (8-13-2) dropped to 1-4 in its past five and has won consecutive games just once this season.
“I don’t think it was effort at all,” Oilers captain Connor McDavid said. “We were just sloppy. It just felt like we were never really in sync, anyone at any time.”
The Oilers finish a five-game road swing at Boston on Sunday.