<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Matinee game? No problem.</span></p>
<p></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/01/25/oilers-game-notes-49-0-edmonton-continues-homestand-against-basement-dwelling-sabres/">Saturday afternoon</a>, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/01/25/game-preview-49-0-edmonton-oilers-look-to-wrap-up-connor-mcdavid-suspension-week-with-a-win-over-buffalo-sabres-2pm-mt-snw/">Buffalo Sabres</a> in their third of six games on this home stand. They picked up their second consecutive win, overcoming two separate one-goal leads to defeat the Sabres 3-2. Let’s take a look at what happened in this one!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Late in the first period, Evan Bouchard’s pass was picked off in the neutral zone, leading to a transition opportunity for the Sabres. A cross-ice pass from Jason Zucker found the stick of Alex Tuch, who beat Stuart Skinner for the opening goal.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="de" dir="ltr">EDM BUF G49. January 25, 2025. Alex Tuch goal. 1-0 BUF. 🎥 Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/Fosy9QX5wJ">pic.twitter.com/Fosy9QX5wJ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883269128045363529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Jeff Skinner scored his revenge goal just 17 seconds later, pouncing on a rebound from a Ty Emberson shot for his eighth goal of the season. Skinner spent six seasons with the Sabres, scoring 153 goals and 291 points in 427 games, so this had to have felt good.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="no" dir="ltr">EDM BUF G49. January 25, 2025. Jeff Skinner goal. 1-1 tie. 🎥 Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/2z9l8JXJYw">pic.twitter.com/2z9l8JXJYw</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883270179175719014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A penalty in the offensive zone from Zach Hyman led to a bunch of chances for the Sabres on their power play in the middle of the second period. Just after it expired, Jiří Kulich’s one-timer beat Skinner for the Sabres to retake their lead.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="in" dir="ltr">EDM BUF G49. January 25, 2025. Jiri Kulich goal. 2-1 BUF. 🎥 Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/o0WGoMFYwa">pic.twitter.com/o0WGoMFYwa</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883279293092089979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kasperi Kapanen decided to become a Beyblade, spinning past his defender and wrapping it around. Although his initial shot was saved, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was Ryan-on-the-spot, shoving it past James Reimer to tie the game up with just under seven minutes left in the middle frame.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EDM BUF G49. January 25, 2025. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal. 2-2 tie. 🎥 Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/vzwa6TbI2G">pic.twitter.com/vzwa6TbI2G</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883284212146729286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Edmonton took a 3-2 lead, as Darnell Nurse made a terrific cross-ice pass to Nugent-Hopkins, who was all alone on the weak side. The longest-tenured Oiler made no mistake in roofing his 15th goal of the season.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">EDM BUF G49. January 25, 2025. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal. 3-2 EDM. 🎥 Sportsnet <a href="https://t.co/40SDcTJRuT">pic.twitter.com/40SDcTJRuT</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Nation Network Media (@NationNMedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883294018303590874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2><b>Takeaways…</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kasperi Kapanen has fit like a glove with the Oilers, as he has five goals and nine points in 27 games this season. His speed has been beneficial to the Oilers bottom six and he’s chipping in with depth scoring. Bonus points because he loves the spin move, drawing a penalty with it on Thursday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s time to have a discussion about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, as it’s not a hot take to say he’s one of the best third-line centres in the league when he plays there. Over his past 15 games, he has nine goals and 13 points. If the Oilers wish to add a high-scoring winger before the trade deadline, the Oilers&#8217; centre depth will be insane.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was the final game of Connor McDavid&#8217;s suspension. In games without McDavid this season, the Oilers have gone 4-2-0, while Leon Draisaitl carried the bulk of the offence with five goals and 11 points in six games. Unfortunately, the German’s 17-game home point streak came to an end this game, it’s extra unfortunate that he hit the post on an empty net. It counts on the outdoor rink, I guess.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stuart Skinner was great in this game. Statistically, he saved 39 shots in 41 opportunities for a .951 save percentage. He also made three breakaway saves when the Oilers really needed it, along with over 10 shots on Buffalo’s three power plays. Safe to say that Skinner goalie’d the Sabres.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the win, the Oilers moved into the top spot in the Pacific Division with a 31-15-3 record, earning 65 points in those 49 games. The Vegas Golden Knights have played an equal number of games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Up next, the Oilers continue their home stand as they host the Seattle Kraken at 7:30 PM MT. They play two more home games afterwards, against the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, before a back-to-back on the road against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks. Their final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off is against the Colorado Avalanche at home.</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.</span></i></p>
<h2><strong>ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365</strong></h2>
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Edmonton Oilers Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Buffalo Sabres

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Matinee game? No problem.</span>


<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2107" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="325"></div>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">On <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/01/25/oilers-game-notes-49-0-edmonton-continues-homestand-against-basement-dwelling-sabres/">Saturday afternoon</a>, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/01/25/game-preview-49-0-edmonton-oilers-look-to-wrap-up-connor-mcdavid-suspension-week-with-a-win-over-buffalo-sabres-2pm-mt-snw/">Buffalo Sabres</a> in their third of six games on this home stand. They picked up their second consecutive win, overcoming two separate one-goal leads to defeat the Sabres 3-2. Let’s take a look at what happened in this one!</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Late in the first period, Evan Bouchard’s pass was picked off in the neutral zone, leading to a transition opportunity for the Sabres. A cross-ice pass from Jason Zucker found the stick of Alex Tuch, who beat Stuart Skinner for the opening goal.</span>

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883269128045363529

<span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Jeff Skinner scored his revenge goal just 17 seconds later, pouncing on a rebound from a Ty Emberson shot for his eighth goal of the season. Skinner spent six seasons with the Sabres, scoring 153 goals and 291 points in 427 games, so this had to have felt good.</span>

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883270179175719014

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A penalty in the offensive zone from Zach Hyman led to a bunch of chances for the Sabres on their power play in the middle of the second period. Just after it expired, Jiří Kulich’s one-timer beat Skinner for the Sabres to retake their lead.</span>

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883279293092089979

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Kasperi Kapanen decided to become a Beyblade, spinning past his defender and wrapping it around. Although his initial shot was saved, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was Ryan-on-the-spot, shoving it past James Reimer to tie the game up with just under seven minutes left in the middle frame.</span>

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883284212146729286

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Edmonton took a 3-2 lead, as Darnell Nurse made a terrific cross-ice pass to Nugent-Hopkins, who was all alone on the weak side. The longest-tenured Oiler made no mistake in roofing his 15th goal of the season.</span>

https://twitter.com/NationNMedia/status/1883294018303590874
<h2><b>Takeaways…</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Kasperi Kapanen has fit like a glove with the Oilers, as he has five goals and nine points in 27 games this season. His speed has been beneficial to the Oilers bottom six and he’s chipping in with depth scoring. Bonus points because he loves the spin move, drawing a penalty with it on Thursday.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s time to have a discussion about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, as it’s not a hot take to say he’s one of the best third-line centres in the league when he plays there. Over his past 15 games, he has nine goals and 13 points. If the Oilers wish to add a high-scoring winger before the trade deadline, the Oilers' centre depth will be insane.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This was the final game of Connor McDavid's suspension. In games without McDavid this season, the Oilers have gone 4-2-0, while Leon Draisaitl carried the bulk of the offence with five goals and 11 points in six games. Unfortunately, the German’s 17-game home point streak came to an end this game, it’s extra unfortunate that he hit the post on an empty net. It counts on the outdoor rink, I guess.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Stuart Skinner was great in this game. Statistically, he saved 39 shots in 41 opportunities for a .951 save percentage. He also made three breakaway saves when the Oilers really needed it, along with over 10 shots on Buffalo’s three power plays. Safe to say that Skinner goalie’d the Sabres.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With the win, the Oilers moved into the top spot in the Pacific Division with a 31-15-3 record, earning 65 points in those 49 games. The Vegas Golden Knights have played an equal number of games.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Up next, the Oilers continue their home stand as they host the Seattle Kraken at 7:30 PM MT. They play two more home games afterwards, against the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, before a back-to-back on the road against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks. Their final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off is against the Colorado Avalanche at home.</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you enjoy my content, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.</span></i>
<h2><strong>ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365</strong></h2>
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Instant Reaction: Oilers grab first place in Pacific Division with 3-2 win over Sabres

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