Alex Tuch scored the shootout winner as the host Buffalo Sabres edged the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Tage Thompson and Jacob Bryson also scored in regulation time for the Sabres, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 30 saves for his first career win over the Oilers.
Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele scored goals for Edmonton.
Stuart Skinner stopped 25 shots as the Oilers dropped a second consecutive game after their five-game winning streak ended in a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
The Sabres thought they won in overtime when defenseman Owen Power beat Skinner with two seconds remaining in the extra period, but video review determined Buffalo was offside on the zone entry.
Bryson tied it 2-2, beating Skinner under his arm with a backhand shot from the faceoff dot at 11:39 of the third period for his first goal of the season and first in 67 games going back to last season.
Edmonton led 2-1 after 20 minutes.
The Oilers opened the scoring 29 seconds into the game when McLeod one-timed a no-look feed from Leon Draisaitl past Luukkonen for his 11th. It’s the third time this season McLeod has scored in a game’s opening 30 seconds.
Saturday was the Oilers’ first loss in a game that McLeod has scored this season (9-0-1).
Draisaitl now has six career 50-assist seasons, all in succession.
Foegele doubled Edmonton’s lead short-handed, finishing a 2-on-0 give-and-go with McLeod for his career-high 14th of the season at 14:19 of the first period. It was the Oilers’ seventh short-handed goal of the season.
Thompson responded for Buffalo 1:16 later on a power play, putting a bouncing puck between the pads of Skinner for his 19th of the season at 15:35.
Saturday was the first of two meetings between the two clubs — Buffalo travels to Edmonton for the second and final game of the season series on March 21.
–Field Level Media
