Tonight marks Ryan O’Reilly’s 500th NHL game.
The last player to reach this milestone as a member of the Sabres was Matt Moulson, on Decenmber 4, 2015 vs. Arizona.
O’Reilly has 16 points (6G, 10A) in his last 16 games against the Oilers, including at least a point in each of his last three (3G, 2A).
ROR has points in five of his last six visits to Edmonton, totaling 10 points in that span (2G, 8A).
In his eight year NHL career, O'Reilly, 25, has scored 111 goals has accumulated 306 points. He is respected as one of the best face off men in the NHL. He is a 53% lifetime draw man. He won 56.7% of his draws last season while averaging 21:57 TOI.
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Kyle Okposo has eight points (5G, 3A) in eight career games against Edmonton. He tied his career high with four points (3G, 1A) including his second career hat trick, when he faced the Oilers on February 7.
Zach Bogosian has a point in four of the five games he’s played in Edmonton in his career (1G, 3A).
Cody Franson has recorded two assists against the Oilers three different times in his career and has five assists in his last five games against Edmonton.
Brian Gionta has five points (1G, 4A) in his last five games against the Oilers, including three assists in his last two games in Edmonton.
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The revamped Edmonton Oilers are the hottest team in the NHL today.
The Oil are playing with a ton of confidence and poise after defeating the Calgary Flames twice in the opening week of the season.
The Oilers routed the Calgary Flames in their first game in their new arena on Wednesday.
Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan told the Oilers' website that there are areas of the game that he wants his team to clean up.
"Obviously, when you talk about a power play and you give up two short-handed goals you're really disappointed. We just got sloppy and lazy around our net and from the goaltender to the forwards and [defense] - everybody has to take care of that. We have to have a sense of urgency or sense danger when we don't have the puck and be prepared to recover."
Milan Lucic is thoroughly enjoying playing alongside McDavid and Jordan Eberle. Lucia says he knows his role.
"Just give him the puck and he makes something happen."
Looch said opponents should not dismiss McDavid as being just a scorer.
"I think you can't underestimate his competitiveness," Lucic said.
"Obviously, [McDavid] wants to score and he's shown that in the first two games here, that he's going to get his chances but also that he's got that competitive side to him where he wants to win, he wants to play the right way and he's willing to do whatever it takes to step up for his team. That's why he's the Captain."
"I think, Connor, his speed combined with his skill is something I don't think people have seen in a very long time. I think that's what makes him such a unique player and I think that's what makes him such a great player. It's a lot of fun to play with a guy like that."
Thanks, Oilers TV
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I'm not going to lie. I'm bummed that Jack Eichel suffered a high ankle sprain in Wednesday morning. I was at the arena when the injury occurred and I can remember my first thought after hearing Jack's shril scream as he crumpled to the ice:
Please,hockey gods, let Eichel miss the Montreal game and let him be heathy for the Sunday night showdown against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
What a gut punch it is to have Eichel tricking around on his knee scooter.
I was really looking forward to Eichel-McDavid in light of the great hockey that they gave us while playing for Team North America at the World Cup Of Hockey.
McLellan coached Eichel and McDavid at the World Cup of Hockey. McLellan is as bummed out about Jack's ankle as you and I are.
"I feel for Jack. He's a great kid and a tremendous player," McLellan told media. "I really enjoyed my time with him at the World Cup. It was special. You could see all the talent, all the enthusiasm he has for the game.
"As an NHL entity as the whole as entertainers, you really feel sorry for some of these guys getting injured like Connor did last year. The losers in it all are the fans. Certainly the Buffalo fans are going to miss him at home and so are his teammates. It happens. It takes a real strong mental approach as Connor had last year to overcome that type of thing. But getting to know Jack for a month, I think he'll have the tools to overcome that quickly."
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McDavid enters Sunday's tilt with Buffalo with three gas and three assists in his first two games of the season. McDavid had 8 SOG and has scored in three of them. That's a 37.5% shooting percentage.
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Trios from Saturday's practice:
Reinhart - O'Reilly - Okposo
Foligno - Larsson - Gionta
Ennis - Grant - Deslauriers
Moulson - Girgensons - Baptiste / Fasching
D Corps:
Gorges- Ristolainen
McCabe-Bogosian
Kulikov-Franson
Nelson
G:
Lehner
Power Play
First Unit: O'Reilly - Moulson - Reinhart - Okposo - Ristolainen
Second Unit: Grant - Ennis - Gionta - McCabe - Franson
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Kyle Okposo will make his Buffalo Sabres debut after missing the season opener with a bruised knee.
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Baptiste was the 13th forward on Saturday. I would play him against Connor McDavid and the fast Oilers. Baptiste has better straight line seed and skill than Hudson Faschingdes at this point in his pro career. Dan Bylsma needs more shots on goal and offensive zone time
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