Olofsson scores Sabres' lone goal in loss to Oilers

EDMONTON - Victor Olofsson scored the lone goal for the Sabres in a 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers inside Rogers Place on Thursday.
The loss opened a three-game road trip in Western Canada that continues Friday night in Calgary. It was a departure from the Sabres' previous two performances, a pair of nationally televised victories over the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs.
"They won the small-area battles, and we did not," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "We didn't play with any pace whatsoever and that was the difference in the game."

Edmonton pulled ahead early on the strength of its dynamic duo of centermen, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid set up Kailer Yamamoto's one-time goal to open the scoring and added a goal of his own ahead of the first intermission.
Draisaitl cut across the Sabres' net and scored his 40th goal to extend the Oilers' lead early in the second period. His line pinned the Sabres in their zone during the shift that ended with Darnell Nurse's goal, which made the score 4-0 later in the period.
Devon Shore (shorthanded) and Tyson Barrie (power play) added special teams goals in the third.
"We just didn't win any battles from the start, made the game really hard on ourselves," Olofsson said. "They got some really, really skilled players and we just got to get pucks deep and win our battles. Obviously, we didn't do that."

The Sabres will aim for a more characteristic performance against the Flames, who sit atop the Pacific Division and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
"We needed to elevate, and we couldn't," Granato said. "… We didn't skate. Everything we did was slow. We had the puck, we had time and space, we didn't take ice aggressively. They did outcompete us in those areas, but even when it was noncompetitive areas, we didn't look like ourselves.
"So, we need a better effort tomorrow, no question, and it's a bigger challenge tomorrow."

Olofsson ends the shutout

Olofsson beat goaltender Mike Smith with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle to put the Sabres on the board at 3:21 of the third period.

The goal was Olofsson's 11th of the season and fourth in the last seven games.
"It's been better lately obviously, so I feel good," he said. "Got a great pass from Aspy there so it was nice to get that one."

Girgensons, Miller return

Zemgus Girgensons and Colin Miller both returned after injury-related absences. Girgensons, who had been out since Jan. 25, skated 13:09 and tallied two shots. Miller played for the first time since Jan. 15 and skated 17:27.

Up next

The road trip continues Friday in Calgary. Coverage on MSG begins at 8:30 p.m. The puck drops at 9.