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National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Buffalo 3, Edmonton 1
When: 9:30 PM ET, Thursday, March 20, 2014
Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Referees: Rob Martell, Tim Peel
Linesmen: Steve Barton, Brian Murphy
Attendance: 16839

Sabres 3, Oilers 1: Cory Conacher scored two goals and set up another as visiting Buffalo snapped its seven-game losing streak.

Drew Stafford also tallied for the Sabres, who are 1-1-0 on their five-game road trip. Matt Hackett turned aside 35 shots in his Buffalo debut as he posted his first NHL victory since 2011-12 with Minnesota.

Taylor Hall netted the lone goal for Edmonton, which is 1-1-0 on its six-game homestand. Ben Scrivens finished with 33 saves as the Oilers lost in regulation for just the second time in six home contests (3-2-1).

Hall opened the scoring by ripping a one-timer from the right faceoff dot past Hackett during a power play with 2:12 remaining in the first period. Conacher answered with a man-advantage tally of his own, deflecting in defenseman Jamie McBain's blast from the right point at 9:16 of the second for his first goal in seven games since being claimed off waivers from Ottawa.

Conacher, whose first tally ended his 27-game drought, put Buffalo ahead 69 seconds into the third as he redirected Cody Hodgson's pass from along the right-wing boards past Scrivens. Stafford doubled the lead at 4:44, converting a backhanded cross-slot pass from Tyler Ennis for his fifth goal in seven games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Conacher's two-goal performance was the second of his career in the regular season. He tallied twice against Winnipeg while with Tampa Bay on Feb. 1, 2013 and also scored a pair of goals versus Montreal as a member of the Senators in last year's playoffs. ... Edmonton RW Nail Yakupov sat out with an ankle injury. ... Hackett became the fifth goaltender to start for Buffalo this season. ... The Sabres have not lost in Edmonton since Oct. 16, 2003.
Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   Edmonton
Cory Conacher 3 Points Taylor Hall 1
Cory Conacher 2 Goals Taylor Hall 1
Cory Conacher 1 Assists David Perron 1
Cory Conacher 1 Power Play Goals Taylor Hall 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Matt Hackett .972 Save Percentage Ben Scrivens .917
Matt Hackett 35 Saves Ben Scrivens 33
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 36 3 1-2 5-6 24 35
Edmonton 36 1 1-6 1-2 16 34
Upcoming Games
  • Edmonton will play their next game at home against Calgary. The Oilers have a W/L % of .360 after a win and .348 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Vancouver. The Sabres have a W/L % of .211 after a win and .314 after a loss.