National Hockey League
Buffalo 3, Edmonton 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, November 12, 2021
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Frederick L'Ecuyer, Michael Markovic
Linesmen: Jesse Marquis, Mark Shewchyk
Attendance: 8258

Dylan Cozens scored twice in the second period to lift the host Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday.

Anders Bjork also tallied and Dustin Tokarski made 33 saves to help the Sabres snap a five-game winless skid (0-4-1).

Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl scored a pair of power-play goals in the second period, and captain Connor McDavid notched an assist to extend his season-opening point streak to 13 games. McDavid also collected at least one point in his final eight regular-season games last season.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two assists and Stuart Skinner turned aside 20 shots for the Oilers, who have lost two of their last three games after winning nine of their first 10. Edmonton was playing its third game in its last four days.

After Draisaitl scored twice to give Edmonton a 2-1 lead, Cozens split the defense and beat Skinner to forge a tie at 13:56 of the second period.

Cozens wasn't done, however. He cleaned up a loose puck after Vinnie Hinostroza was denied on a breakaway to net Buffalo a 3-2 advantage with 50 seconds left in the second period. The two-goal performance was the first of Cozens' career, and he has three goals on the season.

Bjork started the scoring when he deflected the puck away from Edmonton defenseman Cody Ceci to ignite a breakaway that he converted by sending the puck under the crossbar at 2:16 of the second period. Bjork's goal was his third of the season and second in as many games.

Draisaitl forged a 1-1 tie just under two minutes later after backhanding a loose puck under the crossbar for a power-play goal.

The 2019-20 Hart Trophy recipient gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead after recording his NHL-best 14th goal of the season. He capped his sixth two-goal performance of the season by converting a nifty backhanded pass from McDavid at 6:57 of the second period.

Both teams appeared to open the scoring in the first period, only to have those goals overturned by video review.

Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse's bid for his first goal of the season was denied after video review revealed the puck did not go into the net at 2:14 of the first period. Nearly 7 1/2 minutes later, a deflection by Arttu Ruotsalainen was ruled above the crossbar to negate an apparent Buffalo goal.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Edmonton   Buffalo
Leon Draisaitl 2 Points Dylan Cozens 2
Leon Draisaitl 2 Goals Dylan Cozens 2
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 2 Assists Drake Caggiula 1
Leon Draisaitl 2 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Stuart Skinner .870 Save Percentage Dustin Tokarski .943
Stuart Skinner 20 Saves Dustin Tokarski 33
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Edmonton 35 2 2-6 3-3 6 37
Buffalo 23 3 0-3 4-6 12 20
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Sabres have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .286 after a loss.
  • Edmonton will play their next game on the road against St. Louis. The Oilers have a W/L % of .727 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.