Eichel scores in debut, Sabres lose 3-1

The Edmonton Oilers won the 2015 draft lottery and took McDavid.

BUFFALO Credit coach Dave Cameron with a big assist in the Ottawa Senators’ season-opening 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. “But the third period, a lot different”.

Rookie sensation Jack Eichel put the Sabres on the board with a power play goal – the first of his National Hockey League career – putting life back in the First Niagara Center.

The game’s outcome was essentially decided with 9:26 remaining, when Buffalo’s Evander Kane scored on a wraparound that would have tied the score at 2. Replay backed up the claim.

Kyle Turris scored twice for the Senators, who closed last season on a 23-4-4 surge to make the playoffs.

“I wanted to be treated just like anyone else”, Eichel said. Mike Hoffman drove up the left wing and fed a pass into the high slot, from where Turris snapped it in the top right side.

After 40 minutes of play, the top line had six points and Turris was on pace for 246 goals. In this game, the Buffalo Sabres suffered a major setback in this department with freak injury to goalie Robin Lehner. He added his second goal of the night in the second period.

The disallowed goal looked to slow the Buffalo attack afterwards, but soon again they were pressuring Ottawa deep in their zone.

It was the same formula as the first goal: from Stone to Hoffman to Turris.

“I thought he waited too long myself”, said a smiling Bylsma. “I’m not usually a nervous guy, but today I’m nervous”. Clarke MacArthur will likely be a game-time decision Thursday as he awaits medical clearance…The Senators announced they’d sent Matt Puempel to Binghamton…

“It’s more than day to day at this point in time, and we need to evaluate it further”, Bylsma said. Eichel didn’t have a shot for the first 35 minutes as his play was much like his team’s. This was a stark reminder that they were playing a lot of AHL-level defensemen in those games. But it’s the same as any goalie. “If you get caught behind him, I don’t think you’re going to catch him”.

Talk about a textbook start.

One shot. One goal. This new security measure is created to provide a safer environment for patrons and employees and will replace handheld wands as the primary screening device at First Niagara Center. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves – the pregame ceremony and ovations on the player introductions were a nice moment for those who suffered through the last three seasons, and the hype and crowd energy was at FNC Maximum right before puck drop. “At the same time, we’re not scared of anybody”. Now I’m not saying the Lehner is as good as Miller was in his prime, but Lehner will arguably have a more talent squad than Miller did any year after 2007.