Newcomer O'reilly has hat trick for Maple Leafs in a victory over Sabres
Newly acquired center Ryan O’reilly scored twice on Toronto’s first two shots on net and added an empty-net goal in the Maple Leafs’ 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
Playing his third game in four nights since being acquired from St. Louis, O’reilly scored 37 seconds apart in the opening period and the Maple Leafs led 4-0 on goals in a span of 8:18.
O’reilly added two assists and sealed the win with the first five-point outing of his career by scoring into an empty net with 1:10 remaining — and after the Sabres scored three times to cut Toronto’s lead to 5-3.
OILERS 4, FLYERS 2 >> Connor Mcdavid reached 800 career points and scored his 43rd and 44th goals in the third period to give Edmonton the victory over Philadelphia. Mcdavid also assisted on Leon Draisaitl’s tying goal early in the third, with Mcdavid picking up his 800th point and Draisaitl his 700th on the play.
Playing in his 545th game, Mcdavid became the fifth-fastest player in NHL history to hit the mark.
HURRICANES 4, BLUES 1 >> Andrei Svechnikov scored twice in the first eight minutes to break a 19game goal drought and Carolina beat St. Louis. Frederik Andersen stopped 35 shots for his fifth consecutive victory.
CANADIENS 5, DEVILS 2 >> Sam Montembeault stopped three breakaways and made 37 saves to help Montreal end New Jersey’s six-game home winning streak. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and Nick Suzuki scored in a 1:13 span in the second period to put Montreal ahead.
PREDATORS 5, CANUCKS 4, SO >>
Matt Duchene scored the only goal in the shootout as Nashville held off Vancouver. Vancouver’s Conor Garland made it a onegoal game with 1:07 to go in regulation, and Andrei Kuzmenko tied it with his second goal of the night with 15.4 seconds left. In the shootout, Duchene beat goalie Collin Delia as Nashville’s second shooter.
BLACKHAWKS 3, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2, SO >> Tyler Johnson scored the lone goal in a shootout to give Chicago its third straight victory as the Blackhawks defeated Vegas.
RED WINGS 3, CAPITALS 1 >> Pius Suter scored twice, Robert Hagg ended a 75-game goal drought and Detroit beat Washington.
AVALANCHE’S MAKAR IN CONCUSSION PROTOCOL >> Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is back in concussion protocol after taking contact to his head for a second time in under two weeks, another blow for the defending Stanley Cup champions and their reigning playoff MVP.
Coach Jared Bednar ruled out the 24-year-old Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner for at least the team’s next two games Friday and Saturday.
Makar was reinjured early in the third period Saturday in his first game back when St. Louis forward Alexey Toropchenko made contact with his head. He already missed Colorado’s game Sunday against Edmonton.
Bednar said Makar’s head injuries were “obviously related” and did not think the play Saturday alone would have caused this development.
Makar had been out since taking a hit to the head on Feb. 7 from Pittsburgh’s Jeff Carter before returning.