Music: {allcanada} Eichel-McDavid meeting on hold as Oilers host Sabres

Sunday, December 6, 2015

{allcanada} Eichel-McDavid meeting on hold as Oilers host Sabres

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SABRES (11-12-3) at OILERS (10-15-2)

TV: SN, MSG-B

EDMONTON — Buffalo Sabres rookie center Jack Eichel will have to wait to play his first NHL game against Edmonton Oilers rookie center Connor McDavid.

McDavid will not be in the lineup when the Oilers host the Sabres at Rexall Place on Sunday because of a fractured clavicle sustained against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 3.

It is the first time the Oilers and Sabres play each other since Edmonton selected McDavid with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and Buffalo took Eichel second.

The two teams play again March 1, where McDavid is expected to be back from his injury.

Neither team took part in a morning skate Sunday. Oilers coach Todd McLellan and Sabres coach Dan Bylsma will speak before the game to discuss possible lineup changes.

Edmonton is on a two-game win streak after defeating the Dallas Stars 2-1 in overtime Friday. Buffalo won 5-2 against the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, giving the Sabres three wins in their past four games (3-0-1).

The Oilers recalled forward Ryan Hamilton from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Saturday and placed left wing Benoit Pouliot and defenseman Andrew Ference on injured reserve.

Hamilton played 16 games with the Oilers in the 2014-2015 season, scoring a goal and collecting an assist. He is expected to make his season debut against Buffalo.

The Sabres called up forward Cal O'Reilly, brother of center Ryan O'Reilly, from Rochester of the AHL on Saturday.

Goaltender Anders Nilsson will make his fifth consecutive start for the Oilers. Chad Johnson is expected to start for the Sabres.

Here are the projected lineups:

SABRES

Evander Kane - Ryan O'Reilly - Sam Reinhart

Brian Gionta - Jack Eichel - Jamie McGinn

Johan Larsson - Zemgus Girgensons - Matt Moulson

Nicolas Deslauriers - David Legwand – Marcus Foligno

Josh Gorges - Rasmus Ristolainen

Carlo Colaiacovo - Zach Bogosian

Jake McCabe - Cody Franson

Chad Johnson

Linus Ullmark

Injured: Robin Lehner (ankle), Tyler Ennis (upper body), Mark Pysyk (lower body), Mike Weber (knee)

Scratched: Tim Schaller, Mike Weber, Cal O'Reilly

OILERS

Taylor Hall – Leon Draisaitl – Jujhar Khaira

Iiro Pakarinen – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Jordan Eberle

Matt Hendricks – Mark Letestu – Lauri Korpikoski

Ryan Hamilton – Anton Lander – Teddy Purcell

Darnell Nurse – Andrej Sekera

Oscar Klefbom – Mark Fayne

Justin Schultz – Brandon Davidson

Anders Nilsson

Cam Talbot

Injured: Connor McDavid (collarbone), Rob Klinkhammer (leg), Nail Yakupov (ankle), Benoit Pouliot (lower body), Andrew Ference (undisclosed)

Scratched: Luke Gazdic, Eric Gryba

Status report: Ference was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. He has played in six of Edmonton's 27 games this season … Nilsson (7-7-1) has taken over the No. 1 position from Cam Talbot … Eichel is sixth in rookie scoring with eight goals and five assists (13 points) in 26 games. McDavid had five goals and seven assists (12 points) in 13 games before his injury.

Who's hot: Hall has 10 goals and 26 points in 27 games … Ryan O'Reilly has a goal and three assists in his past three games … Eberle scored the overtime winner against the Stars and shootout winner in a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.

Team Stats