Hopkins' second goal of the game snapped a tie with 11:01 left as the Connor McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers overcame a barrage of Buffalo shots in the final two periods to beat the Sabres, 3-2, Saturday at Rogers Place.

The Sabres didn't have a shot on goal for the first 11 minutes of this game but had a 19-7 advantage in the third period and didn't score. Over the final two periods, they had 36 shots on goal, 35 scoring chances and and 12 high-danger chances,

A rebuild in the NHL can be a grueling process. With the patience needed to develop prospects, and decide whether to add or subtract to the team and what each offseason has to offer, there aren’t many situations for a team to be in that are more stressful than this.

‘There’s a lot that goes into that I don’t really think about,” Kozak said after Thursday’s practice at KeyBank Center, reflecting on his recent back-and-forth between rosters. “I just think about playing the best I can, trying to get better every day. Just trying to make those decisions a little tougher.”

Rasmus Dahlin has recorded 15 assists in his last 15 games. Dahlin is two assists away from tying Mike Ramsey for the second-most assists (256) by a Sabres defenseman alltime. Dahlin is one goal away from tying Ramsey for the second-most goals by a defenseman in franchise history (73).

Connor McDavid returned to the Edmonton Oilers lineup against the Seattle Kraken after serving a three-game suspension for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland in the helmet Jan. 18.

Dahlin has posted 17 points (3+14) in his last 15 road games, including at least one points in five of his last six. Dahlin is two assists away from tying Mike Ramsey for the second-most assists (256) by a Sabres defenseman all-time.

Just as Connor McDavid is set to return from his three-game suspension to the Edmonton Oilers line-up against Seattle Monday night, hockey’s most venerated commentator Don Cherry has weighed in ...

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Buffalo had its chances to extend it a few minutes later when Beck Malenstyn hit the post on a short-handed breakaway and Peyton Krebs was denied by Skinner on a breakaway out of the box.

They’ve done so in recent weeks, primarily to condition the five-man defensive unit to handle late-game pressure. But these recent third-period outcomes have emphasized the need for offensive work at 6-on-5, as well. After practice, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff identified the areas needing improvement.