The Sabres had gone winless in two games prior during their California road trip, including a 2-0 loss in Los Angeles on Thursday night. They had been unhappy with their start in that game against the Kings, but Bylsma shuffled the lines and - while the coach said he still would've liked to see more scoring chances for his side - their effort was certainly improved to begin the game.
The most notable line change came at the top, where Ryan O'Reilly was moved to the wing on a line with Jack Eichel and Tyler Ennis. Duties changed with the situations; O'Reilly and Eichel rotated faceoffs depending on the spot on the ice, and the two were split up late in each period. But aside from some defensive unfamiliarity at wing on O'Reilly's part, the line felt comfortable.
"It was good, getting to play with Eichs is special, his speed, what he creates," O'Reilly said. "For myself, it's open up the ice, get the puck to him. If you do that and help him get speed he's going to beat a lot of guys. I thought we had some good shifts."
"Trying to jump start a line with two of our best players on a line together," Bylsma explained.
For all the scoring chances O'Reilly and Eichel had in the first period, it was a good bounce that led to O'Reilly tying the game at 1-1 with 4:25 remaining in the second. Jake McCabe took a shot from the point and the puck deflected wide off of Bernier's glove, then off of O'Reilly's skate and into the net.