McDavid scores two in Oilers’ 3-2 win over Sabres Maple Leafs’ Ryan O’Reilly out long term with broken finger Cale Makar cleared to return 2nd time from concussion protocol Stars acquire Max Domi in trade with Blackhawks Senators beat Rangers 5-3 to spoil Patrick Kane’s debut

BUFFALO, NY – Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft likes to compare views Connor McDavid play life at the foot of Mount Everest and be almost numb from daily contemplation of the breathtaking scene.

It was a spectacular sight for Woodcroft and the Oilers on Monday night when McDavid scored twice to bring his NHL-best to 54 goals and set a career high with 124 points in a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

“The finish was worldwide,” Woodcroft said of McDavid hitting the go-ahead on the fly, beating Craig Anderson on a 3:23 leg in the third period, and less than two minutes after the Sabres tied the game at 2.

“I’ve seen someone who was competitive right off the puck, from the moment the puck was thrown,” he added. “Connor is at a different stage in his game right now and I think everyone saw that today.”

McDavid went on to achieve his third Hart MVP Trophy in eight seasons, becoming his 12th multi-goal game of the year. His 124 points in 65 games is one more than a career best he scored in 80 games last year, and McDavid extended his hitting streak to 11 games in which the Oilers captain scored 12 goals and made 15 gears.

“Who, if not him, can play big?” asked a teammate Zach Hyman in surprise. “He is the best player in the world and he is pushing his own limits. He has been driving a bus for a long time and continues to get better.”

Derek Ryan also scored and Stuart Skinner stopped 37 shots for the Oilers, who have improved to 5-4-3 over the past 12 and bounced back from a 7-5 loss in Winnipeg on Saturday.

Jeff Skinner And Dylan Cozens scored for the Sabers and Anderson saved 34 shots.

Down to 6-4 in their last 10 games, Buffalo have continued their season at home, losing five of their last seven.

Buffalo (32–26–4), in the midst of the NHL’s worst playoff drought in 11 seasons, failed to make headway in a tight Eastern Conference race. The day started with four points separating the seventh-place New York Islanders and ninth-place Buffalo, who were tied with four 68-point teams.

Earlier in the day, Sabres coach Don Granato declined to say whether he considered McDavid a notch above everyone else in the league out of respect for his young stars. After that, Granato had no choice but to praise the Oilers captain, who scored twice on three shots into the net.

“He’s 50+ for some reason, he doesn’t need a lot (shots),” Granato said. “He did it with many teams and goalkeepers and he was ready for his opportunities. That’s what makes it special.”

The Oilers (35–22–8) tied with Seattle for third place in the Pacific Division.

Opening the scoring in the first period, McDavid hit the go-ahead early in the third period, shortly after Cozens equalized.

Warren Voegele drove up the left flank to enter the Sabers zone, and then turned around to hit McDavid in the center on the move. McDavid turned left to pass the defender Jacob Brysonand snapped Anderson’s legs.

It was McDavid’s ninth game-winning goal of the season after he started the day with a four-way tie, finishing second and one behind a teammate. Leon Draisaitl.

INJURIES Oilers LW Evander Kane, who travels with the team, missed his ninth game with a rib injury. … Sabers were without C Tyson Jost and Ds Matthias Samuelsson And Riley Stillman (head), which are listed from day to day.

NEXT

Oilers: To the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Sabers: To the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

NEWARK, NJ — Toronto Maple Leafs center Ryan O’Reilly has been out of action for a while with a broken toe.

According to coach Sheldon Keefe, O’Reilly is going to the long-term reserve due to injuries. This means the 32-year-old should miss the next 10 games.

He won’t be able to return until Toronto’s March 29 game against Florida. The playoffs will start on April 17th.

The Maple Leafs acquired O’Reilly in exchange for the St. Louis last month. Since then, he has scored five points in eight games before hitting the puck off his left hand late in the second period after a 4-1 loss to Vancouver.

Keef added by Captain Leafs John Tavares will be held off the roster due to an undisclosed illness when the team visits the New Jersey Devils to complete a five-game trip.

In a similar move, the Leafs recalled forwards Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steves from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and loaned goaltender Joseph Wall to the club’s main affiliate.

O’Reilly was one of the Toronto General Manager’s six new players. Kyle Dubas introduced before the trade deadline to make the team more competitive. Stanley Cup winner and 2019 Playoff MVP, O’Reilly won 84.4% of faceoffs with the Leafs before hitting 3-of-11 against the Canucks.

Toronto is currently second in the Atlantic Division, five points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have lost five in a row and eight of their last 10 games. The Leafs and Lightning are on track to face each other in the first round of the playoffs.

DENVER – Defender Cale Makar received clearance to rejoin the Colorado Avalanche after two different hits in 11 days landed him on the league’s concussion protocol both times.

“Ready to go,” Makar told reporters about his plans to play in Dallas.

The Norris Trophy winner has missed five straight games and nine of his last 10 due to two separate headers. He suffered the first on Feb. 7 in Pittsburgh, returned to play a game, but then left again after hitting his visor with his glove on Feb. 18 in St. Louis.

“I can’t take such blows,” Makar said after training. “But at the same time, things happen. A couple of bad bounces.

Makar leads the league in playing time, averaging nearly 27 minutes per game. He is also the best among Colorado defensemen with 13 goals and 45 points.

In his absence, the Stanley Cup winners took care of business. They are six points behind the Stars for first place in the Central Division (and played three games less than Dallas).

“I love watching hockey. But I hate watching my own games,” Makar, 24, said. “These things take time and I think we as a team and as individuals understand that. There is no pressure from anyone in terms of trying to rush back.

“Obviously there are jokes and stuff, the guys want you to come back early, but at times like this you have to do what’s in your best interest. I felt that lately I put it at the forefront, and the team helped me with this.

Makar received his first headbutt in a collision with Pittsburgh. Jeff Carter February 7th. Makar passed all of the NHL’s concussion tests according to clear protocol and told the team’s medical staff that he was happy to be back.

In his first game on February 18, Makar was re-injured early in the third period when St. Louis forward Alexei Toropchenko touched his face with a right glove as they were chasing a lost puck.

Makar explained that after the second stroke, his symptoms were mild, but he was in no hurry to return after the first one.

“I’m not going to put myself in a situation where I can hurt myself even more,” Makar said. “I would be more inclined to play if I didn’t have that first encounter after that. I think it would be good. Obviously you don’t want these things mixed up.”

He added: “There are so many things that we have yet to learn about such injuries. I still think the league is doing everything they can to protect the guys from this.”

NOTES: Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said the quarterback Josh Manson was going to miss some time. Bednar said it was due to a lower body injury that kept Manson out of 31 games from December 3 to February 14. … Forward Valery Nichushkin was ill and Bednar wasn’t sure he would play.

CHICAGO – Acquisition of the Dallas Stars Max Domi in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on the striker’s 28th birthday.

The move was announced following Dallas’ 5-2 victory over Chicago. Domi was angry at what the Blackhawks were calling “roster management”.

“We’re excited to add a player of Max’s caliber to our roster,” Stars general manager Jim Neill said in a press release. “His offense this season speaks for itself, but he will also bring energy, courage and a veteran presence as we continue our playoff run.”

The addition of Domi gives Dallas another veteran forward looking to make the playoffs. The Stars (33-16-13) lead the Western Conference, one point better than the dormant Vegas Golden Knights.

Dallas also received minor league goaltender Dylan Wells from Chicago in exchange for veteran goaltender Anton Khudobin and a 2025 second-round pick.

The modest Blackhawks (21-35-5) continue to lean on their tanking strategy, hoping for a chance to take Connor Bedard with the first pick in the draft.

old star Patrick Kaneforwards Domi and Sam Lafferty and defenders Jake McCabe And Jack Johnson were sold to Chicago.

The Blackhawks also made two minor deals. They acquired Anaheim’s Maxim Hunger over Dylan Sikura in exchange for minor league hitters and they took the lead. Anders Bjork from Buffalo in exchange for future considerations.

Domi has 18 goals and 31 assists in 60 games for Chicago. He scored two goals and provided an assist in a 4-3 win over Dallas last week.

Domi, the son of former NHL forward Tie Domi, signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Blackhawks in July.

Khudobin, 36, was likely put on the list for a salary cap. He did not appear in NHL games this season. The Blackhawks said he would report to Rockford of the American Hockey League.

Stars appoint Wells and loan out strikers Fredrik Carlstrom And Fredrik Olofsson and goaltender Matt Murray of the Texas Stars of the AHL.