Kane’s Oilers down 2-1 to Stars, Okposo inserted for Game 4 vs. Rangers
The 2024 Memorial Cup in Saginaw, Michigan has not turned out well for Buffalo Sabres prospects Vsevolod Komarov and Matthew Savoie, as the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Moose Jaw Warriors are winless in four games and nearing being eliminated from playoff competition.
Komarov’s Voltigeurs fell to 0-2 on Sunday, losing to the Spirit 4-3, with the big Russian defenseman registering a pair of assists. Savoie’s outcome on Monday was similar, as Moose Jaw allowed three second-period goals and fell short a comeback attempt, losing 5-4 to the Knights. Savoie was held without a point in the contest. The two clubs will meet on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the semi-final against the loser of the London-Saginaw game on Wednesday.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers surrendered home-ice advantage back to Dallas in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, as the Stars rallied from an early deficit to win 5-3. The Stars scored three second-period goals, and broke a 3-3 tie in the third period on Jason Robertson’s third goal of the game. Former Sabre Evander Kane was held without a point in 18 minutes of ice time and had two shots on goal in the contest.
On Tuesday, all five former Buffalo Sabres will be in the lineup for the Florida Panthers in a critical Game 4 against the New York Rangers in Sunrise, FL. The Panthers like the Oilers split the first two games on the road but lost their second straight overtime contest on an Alexander Wennberg goal.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice may be tinkering slightly with his lineup, as he indicated that forwards Steven Lorentz and Kyle Okposo would play in place of Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins. Okposo was a healthy scratch for four straight games, but the hope is that some fresh legs could help Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, who made 33 saves in the 5-4 overtime victory on Sunday. Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey, who missed a second straight game after a heavy hit from Lomberg, skated in Florida on Monday but is not expected to return to the lineup anytime soon.
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