Back on track, Oilers out to avenge loss to Sabres
After a middling February, the Edmonton Oilers are back on a roll in March and look to keep it going when they host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
Edmonton (41-21-4, 86 points) is 6-1-2 through March, matching their win total from the previous month, in which they went 6-5-1. Last month marked their fewest wins since winning only twice in October.
The Oilers' success in March has allowed them to climb into second place in the Pacific Division. Entering Wednesday, they were five points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings, who are third, and seven points clear of the second wild card, occupied by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Most recently, the Oilers are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, a game in which Edmonton saw its 2-0 lead erased before Leon Draisaitl secured the victory.
That extended the Oilers' point streak to five games (3-0-2), a stretch that began with their 3-2 shootout loss to the host Sabres (33-32-5, 71 points) on March 9.
"In the past, we've found ways to lose those games," Draisaitl said. "We would kind of let the frustration sink in a little bit. We'll take the two points, but obviously there is lots to do better."
One of those that they've lost was the contest against the Sabres. Edmonton went up 2-0 early and led 2-1 after the first period before Buffalo rallied.
Defenseman Evan Bouchard continues to enjoy a career season. The 24-year-old has five points -- all assists -- in a four-game point streak, and his 65 points (15 goals, 50 assists in 66 games) are tied for fifth among all NHL defensemen.
"Steady improvement for him every year," forward Zach Hyman said. "I think this year he's really taken that next leap into the upper echelon of two-way defensemen."
The Sabres, meanwhile, aim to bounce back after a 3-2 road loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Buffalo trailed 2-0 before cutting the deficit to a goal each time, courtesy of defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
The setback, combined with a Detroit Red Wings victory, pushed Buffalo to five points back of the second wild card from the Eastern Conference entering Wednesday. But they don't plan on giving up any time soon.
"No chance," Dahlin said. .".. We are still in it, and we are going to work our ass off until the end."
Dahlin's two tallies against Vancouver brought him to 17 on the season in 69 games, eclipsing his career high of 15 set a season ago in 78 games. The total is tied for second among NHL defensemen, one behind Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators. It's the highest single-season total by a Buffalo blueliner since Phil Housley scored 21 back in 1989-90.
Dahlin is also the third defenseman in franchise history to score at least 17 goals, after Housley (who accomplished the feat six times) and John Van Boxmeer.
The Sabres are 4-2-0 in their past six, a stretch that began with their win against Edmonton.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
Evacuees concerned over conflicting information on Fort Nelson wildfire
Evacuees staying in Fort St. John have expressed concern about how little they are hearing about what is happening in their now deserted city.
Insurance claims skyrocket and tensions remain high after slew of natural disasters
According to new data released by Statistics Canada, the cost of catastrophic insurance claims in Canada between 1983 and 2008 was $400 million each year.
P.E.I. proposes banning Islanders of a certain age from purchasing tobacco products in new health plan
A new proposal to ban Islanders of a certain age from ever buying tobacco products could put Prince Edward Island at the forefront of the battle against smoking.
B.C. YouTuber ordered to pay $350K for 'relentless' online defamation campaign
An 'unrepentant' YouTuber has been ordered to pay $350,000 in damages as compensation for a 'relentless' campaign of defamation waged online against a business owner and his company, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.
Indigenous consultant accuses NHL's Blackhawks of fraud, sexual harassment
A consultant the Chicago Blackhawks hired to improve relationships with American Indian tribes has filed a lawsuit accusing the team, its charity foundation and its CEO of fraud, breach of contract and sexual harassment.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
Why the speech by Kansas City Chiefs kicker was embraced at Benedictine College's commencement
Kansas City Chiefs' Harrison Butker may have stirred controversy in some quarters for his proclamations of conservative politics on Saturday, but he received a standing ovation from graduates at the Benedictine College commencement ceremony.
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections
Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday after a political event in an attempted assassination that shocked the small country and reverberated across Europe.