That might have well been the final score on Tuesday at First Niagara Center, and it would have been the opposite if you took away the first and last minutes of the game, but en route to a 2-1 win, McDavid netted two goals for Edmonton in the first meeting between the two young stars.
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McDavid vs. Eichel round one did not disappoint, don’t forget about ol’ Crosby vs. Ovechkin, Pageau scored a timely one, and more in five things we learned in the National Hockey League.
A costly too many men on the ice penalty in the third period led to a Boston power play goal by Patrice Bergeron that made the difference in the Flames’ sixth loss in a row, 2-1, in Boston.
“It feels like it was forever ago, really”, McDavid said, breaking into a smile.
Matt Niskanen scored the victor during a third-period power play and Washington beat Pittsburgh in an entertaining, back-and-forth showdown that could be a first-round playoff preview.
After losing the opening faceoff, McDavid stripped the puck from Bogosian near the blue line.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe (29) vies for the puck with Edmonton Oilers right winger Zach Kassian (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Mar. 1, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. And Connor McDavid immediately made his mark 22 seconds in.
That’s the unique situation Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid find themselves in this week. “They are both generational players, but they each still have some work to do”.
“We didn’t play well at all”, Eichel said.
“It was a good feeling”. McDavid is a special player who is capable of breaking a game open by converating turnovers into goals. “When you play against a guy who was drafted ahead of you, you take it as a personal challenge and always want to outplay them”. “I’m sure we’re going to be seeing a lot more from Connor and probably Jack as well”, says McLellan.
“I thought (Eichel) and (McDavid) were the two best players on the ice tonight”, Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. Then with a nifty play, Reinhart made a spinned pass coming down the left wing to Cal O’Reilly on the far side post. McDavid was chosen first overall by the Oilers, and Eichel went second to Buffalo.
“Tribute” to Eichel: The Sabres hand the microphone to fans before the start of the period in an attempt to pump up the crowd. They probably won’t play together much, but the fact that they will share the same jersey and compete alongside each other is definitely going to be interesting.
The game was tied at one through 60 minutes, so it would be decided by three on three overtime.
Both represent the future of struggling franchises and both have mostly lived up to the hype, excelling as teen sensations for the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres have scored twice in each contest of a three-game skid against the Oilers.
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The game also came one day before the Canadian-born McDavid and American-born Eichel are expected to be named among the first 16 players selected to Team North America’s World Cup of Hockey roster.
