Sabres 4, Oilers 3 (OT): Brilliant Comeback Wasted
Some nights you write yourself a great story, and then someone tears the last page out. That’s what happened to the Edmonton Oilers in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The game had all the ingredients of one of those stubborn, proud Rogers Place comebacks. The Oilers scored three unanswered in the third. Connor McDavid was dragging the team back into the fight, and the building buzzed as if something extraordinary were unfolding. And then, 33 seconds into overtime, Alex Tuch slipped behind everyone and beat Stuart Skinner glove side. Just like that, it was over.
The Oilers Did the Hard Part, Just Not the Last Part.
It’s a frustrating result because the Oilers did the hard part: they climbed out of the hole. And it was a big one. Down 3–0 after 40 minutes, flat, sloppy, and penalty-ridden, they looked nothing like the group that’s been slowly trending the right way. But something clicked between the second and third. Maybe it was pride. Perhaps it was McDavid deciding he wasn’t leaving quietly. Whatever it was, the Oilers opened the third period like they were shot out of a cannon.
Ten seconds in, McDavid powered through traffic, lifted one over Alex Lyon, and woke up the entire building. Less than two minutes later, Vasily Podkolzin hacked in a loose puck to make it 3–2. Suddenly, the Sabres looked rattled. Edmonton was forechecking, rolling lines, pushing the pace. Simply said, they were doing all the things they hadn’t done earlier.
And then came the moment: with two seconds left, Skinner on the bench, Nugent-Hopkins’ rebound popped out to McDavid, who buried it like he was tying his skate. 3–3. Rogers Place erupted. It was one of those goals where you don’t just think the Oilers are going to win — you feel it.
That made the overtime sting more. A coverage slip, a misread in the neutral zone, and Tuch was gone. It only takes one chance in 3-on-3, and Buffalo took it.
Key Point One: The Oilers’ Slow Start Cost Them the Game.
The Oilers took six penalties, had sloppy puck management, and lacked bite. Edmonton gave Buffalo too much room early. It cost them the game.
Key Point Two: The Oilers’ Pushback Was Elite.
McDavid scored two goals; Podkolzin’s crease work was solid. And the entire team’s third-period energy showed the identity this group wants. Then one mistake in the extra session erased it all (well, almost). A single point is better than no points.
Key Point Three: Skinner Battles, But Needs More Help Early
The Sabres’ first three goals weren’t all on him, but the Oilers keep making him fight uphill. In the end, he was beaten in OT. That said, he was far from the reason his team lost this game.
Final Thought from the Oilers’ Perspective
The Oilers didn’t get the result they wanted. Still, their response matters. This team is still learning how to build a full 60 minutes. They just didn’t finish the job last night.