Coming off three losses in a row this week, today the Sabres did a great job beating the Oilers 3-2 (twice) in a shootout, on a really solid defensive game.
It didn’t take long for the Oilers to get on the road, with a goal from Ryan McLeod just 29 seconds into the game off a beautiful backhand from Draisaitl. Edmonton went up 2-0 with 5:41 left in the first period as Jeff Skinner lost the puck which led to a shorthanded 2 on 1 rush with Ryan McLeod giving it to Warren Foegele to cash in on the shorty. Pretty bad play from the Sabres to lead to that one. The Sabres got on the board on the power play with 4:25 to go, with Tage getting a quick shot in front off a rebound beating Skinner five hole to cut the Oilers lead in half. The Sabres did a decent job in that period at generating chances, but Edmonton’s such a better team that the way they move the puck is like an entirely different fucking game than we play.
Pretty good second period for the Sabres, holding on defensively to keep the period scoreless, only down a goal going into the second intermission.
With 8:21 left in regulation, after some nice chances for both teams, Jacob Bryson tied it up at 2 with a backhanded shot that kind of looked like a pass, with the puck going off Stewart Skinner and into the net.
Both teams had some decent chances to get the win, but we head to overtime still tied 2-2. Thankfully I went Oilers moneyline on this one instead of regulation. The Sabres did a solid job keeping McDavid and Draisaitl from getting any quality scoring chances and with 2 seconds left in overtime, Owen Power scored for the second game in a row, getting the OT winner.
After both teams left the ice though, it was determined that the stupidest rule in hockey, offsides, determined it wasn’t a goal, so both teams head back out for overtime to continue. Ridiculous that they don’t just call that a goal. Insane honestly. Then as the Sabres all came back out, it took a bit of time for the Oilers to return to the ice. 20.1 seconds left.
With no goals in that 20 seconds, onto the shootout for the Sabres to try to win again.
Tage up first…SCORES!
Connor McDavid…SAVE UPL on the best player in the world!
Then the guy that thought he scored the game winner, Owen Power…save Skinner.
Leon Draisaitl, with a quick release beats Luukonen to tie it up.
Alex Tuch…SCORES!
With a save on Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Sabres win! and it counts this time!
FINAL: Sabres 3, Oilers 2 (SO)
Really solid game, that the Sabres won twice. Really solid defensive game against the best player in the world, shutting down McDavid and Draisaitl (who did have an assist) really well to get the win. I was impressed how Buffalo played today after a kind of lousy first period. We were outshot 32-27, and didn’t slow down, as we actually outplayed Edmonton by an expected goal rate of 3.16-3.06. UPL was fantastic in goal once again. Just insane that we had to win twice. That fucking offsides rule has to go.
Let’s Go Buffalo!
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