from Scott Burnside of ESPN.

Some frustrating times for the Buffalo Sabres, who are trying to hang with the playoff kids in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres dropped another close on Monday night, 2-1 to the St. Louis Blues, a game that was notable for a couple of reasons.

First, the Sabres are now winless (0-3-2) in their past five games. Unlike the past couple of seasons, though, the Sabres are keeping it close and have allowed just 12 goals over that stretch against quality opponents, including the Blues twice, the San Jose Sharks, and the Dallas Stars twice. The offense has gone soft, though, and the slide has coincided with a six-game goal drought for standout rookie Jack Eichel, who has just one assist during that span.

It's also worth noting that the Edmonton Oilers, without the services of No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid, lost a tight one last night, too, in a 1-0 defeat by a very good Washington Capitals team. The Oilers have won just two of their past eight games and are last in the NHL. It's not too early to say that as Eichel goes, so go the Sabres, or to say the same about the Oilers and McDavid.

more on both teams from the ESPN hockey guys...