Oilers 2, Sabres 1 (OT)
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Center Connor McDavid scored 3:48 into overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
It was McDavid's second goal of the game.
The game showcased the top two picks of the 2015 draft, McDavid and Sabres center Jack Eichel, and the finishing sequence appropriately featured both players.
In the extra session, Eichel raced down the right side of the ice before tossing a shot just wide of the Edmonton net. McDavid then picked up the puck at his own blue line and sped down the ice before beating Robin Lehner with a backhand shot between the goalie's legs.
Goalie Cam Talbot made 31 saves for Edmonton (24-34-7).
Center Cal O'Reilly scored for the Sabres (25-31-8). Lehner made 39 saves.
It took McDavid just 22 seconds to open the scoring.
After McDavid forced a turnover inside the blue line, right winger Jordan Eberle found the rookie all alone in front of the Buffalo net. McDavid made a quick deke inside to his backhand and had an open net for his 11th goal of the season.
The Oilers appeared to take a 2-0 lead with less than a second remaining in the second period but defenseman Andrej Sekera's goal was overturned following a coach's challenge. Edmonton center Anton Lander was offside on the rush at the start of the play, negating the goal.
O'Reilly evened the score with 10:54 remaining in regulation. After center Sam Reinhart spun inside the left circle and fired a no-look, backhand pass, O'Reilly chipped the puck into the net. It was O'Reilly's first goal of the season and his first NHL goal since Dec. 21, 2011. Cal O'Reilly is the older brother of injured Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly.
Both McDavid and Eichel continue to have exceptional rookie campaigns. Eichel is second on the Sabres in scoring with 41 points (17 goals, 24 assists). McDavid has 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 28 games after missing much of the year with a fractured collarbone.
NOTES: LW Patrick Maroon, LW Luke Gazdic, LW Benoit Pouliot and D Nikita Nikitin were scratched for the Oilers. Maroon was acquired by the Oilers from Anaheim at the trade deadline in exchange for a fourth-round pick and D Martin Gernat. ... D Cody Franson was scratched for the Sabres. ... This was the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. ... This was Buffalo's fourth of five consecutive games against Pacific Division opponents. Buffalo's record of 6-5-2 against the Pacific is its best mark against any division.