The game started off quickly for both teams tonight. Buffalo was awarded an early power play with an Oilers defenseman shooting the puck over the glass.
However, it was the Oilers that would capitalize first. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl got free on a 2 on 1. McDavid made a nice pass across and Draisaitl put it by Linus Ullmark for his 41st goal of the season.
Just about a minute later on that same power play, the Sabres responded. Jack Eichel beat his man down the wall and put a shot under the bar to even the game at one.
Eichel Goal
1-1 pic.twitter.com/B6oyLGbXUP— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) March 5, 2019
In the middle of the period they took the lead on a nice play between Scott Wilson and Casey Mittelstadt. Wilson made a great pass from behind the net to an open Mittelstadt and he fired it past Mikko Koskinen.
Mittelstadt replay 2 pic.twitter.com/75ywdeUePE
— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) March 5, 2019
Just over three minutes later, Eichel, scored his second of the period. He came down on a 3 on 1 and wired a shot by Koskinen to give the Sabres a commanding 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Jack Eichel’s 2nd goal
3-1 Buffalo pic.twitter.com/gMdgPNRyN8— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) March 5, 2019
The Sabres looked to be in control in the second period for the most part. Each team had this scoring chances, but neither really had the upper hand.
Then the home team collapsed in the final four minutes of the period.
McDavid found an open Zack Kassian cross ice to get the Oilers back within one. Just over two minutes later, Darnell Nurse get free in the slot and fired a shot by Ullmark to tie the game at three.
It’s not over yet. Just over a minute after tying the game, the Oilers took the lead with four seconds remaining in the period. Kyle Brodziak deflected a point shot from Adam Larsson by Ullmark.
That would end up being the end of the night for Ullmark. He was replaced by Carter Hutton in the third period.
The Sabres had plenty of chances to get even. Jeff Skinner put a puck off the post when it looked like a sure goal. Jason Pominville somehow managed to stop his own shot from going in.
The Sabres will literally never score again pic.twitter.com/r9uKl3WDsW
— Ben Mathewson (@Ben_Mathewson) March 5, 2019
It all resulted in the Sabres dropping another game and they continue to find ways to lose games.
Final: Oilers 4, Sabres 3
Shots on Goal: Oilers 27 | Sabres 38
Sabres Goal Scorers: Jack Eichel (24, 25) and Casey Mittelstadt (10)
Oilers Goal Scorers: Leon Draisaitl (41) (SHG), Zack Kassian (11), Darnell Nurse (8), and Kyle Brodziak (5)
Three Starts of the Game
1. Leon Draisaitl (1 G, 1 A)
2. Connor McDavid (2 A)
3. Jack Eichel (2 G)