GAME STORY: Sabres 5, Oilers 0

EDMONTON, AB -Jack Eichel had four points and Robin Lehner made 33 saves as the Buffalo Sabres blanked the Oilers 5-0 Tuesday at Rogers Place.
With the loss, the Oilers drop to 21-24-3 on the season and 8-12-2 against Eastern Conference opposition.

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The Oilers host the Calgary Flames on Thursday. The game can be seen on Sportsnet West and heard on the Oilers Radio Network, including 630 CHED. Puck drop is 7:10 p.m. MST.
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"Good, strong teams get on a roll and they don't give it back," said Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan, referencing the three-game win streak the Oilers had snapped. "We've consistently given it back this year. Just when we gain a little bit of traction, we give it back. That's a common pattern for our group and something that didn't occur last year."
Oscar Klefbom played 23:38 while Anton Slepyshev registered six shots on goal.
"For whatever reason, sometimes we just don't get up for games," said Oilers Captain Connor McDavid. "That's unacceptable on everyone's part and it starts at the top."
Cam Talbot made 18 saves and Al Montoya, who came in relief of Talbot after the fourth goal, stopped 11 of 12 shots.
The Oilers went 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-4 on the penalty kill.
"Horrendous," said McLellan.
"Penalty kill was horrendous. Guys not doing their jobs, reacting slow, and the power play did nothing to create any momentum for us throughout the game."
Patrick Maroon echoed the special teams woes.
"Our power play's got to get one, we had two opportunities and their power play capitalizes on three opportunities," he said.
"Special teams again, it's killing us this year."
While Adam Larsson sat in the penalty box for hooking, the Buffalo Sabres struck on their first man-advantage of the night. Rasmus Ristolainen launched a slap shot from the point that caught a piece of Sam Reinhart in front of the net. Talbot got the majority of the shot but the puck squeaked past him just enough to trickle across the line. The goal was Reinhart's ninth of the season and 17th point, while Ristolainen and Eichel recorded the assists.
The Sabres ran away with the game in the second period by scoring four goals - one just 17 seconds into the period, two on the power play as well as an even-strength marker.

Following the drop of the puck for the second, Reinhart fed Scott Wilson in the slot and he was able to get a quick shot off on Talbot. The rebound popped to centre Ryan O'Reilly, who pounced on the puck to make it 2-0 with his 12th of the season.
"We're trying to make the right play, we're just not making it for whatever reason," said Milan Lucic.
Zemgus Girgensons then extended the lead to three.
Girgensons and Kyle Okposo attacked together on a 2-on-1, with Okposo feeding the puck to the Latvian but the pass hit his skate. Although the dish was errant, the redirection had enough velocity to get past Talbot as the netminder attempted to slide across.
Eichel then ripped another one on the power play to make it 4-0 Buffalo.
Jujhar Khaira and Justin Falk tussled a play before but Khaira was given a cross-checking minor. Eichel possessed the puck along the half wall, electing to keep it to himself and fire a wrist shot short side over Talbot's shoulder.

"I think everyone was excited," said Leon Draisaitl about the mood before the game. "It's not like we're trying to play that way out there but for some reason, we can't pull it together and come out with a strong effort."
Oilers backup Montoya then came in for relief of Talbot.
In an attempt to produce some energy, McLellan united Draisaitl, McDavid and Maroon onto the top line but it didn't halt Buffalo's onslaught.
O'Reilly scored his second of the game on the Sabres' third power play. He released a shot from the slot that Montoya couldn't stop, giving Buffalo a 5-0 lead.
"It's frustrating because we are a good team, we have a good group of guys in here," said Maroon. "That was probably the biggest game of the year right there because it could have gotten us closer to a playoff spot."
The Oilers host the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Puck drop is at 7:10 p.m. MST.