Jack Eichel scores the lone goal for Buffalo.
By Louie Korac / NHL.com Correspondent
ST. LOUIS, MO. — Ryan O’Reilly scored a goal in his first game against his former team when the St. Louis Blues defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 4-1, at Enterprise Center on Thursday.
O’Reilly, who was acquired from Buffalo on July 1 for forwards Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka and Tage Thompson, a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, scored in the third period.
Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist, Jay Bouwmeester and Pat Maroon scored, and Jake Allen made 30 saves for St. Louis (15-16-4), which has won five of its past seven (5-2-0). Alexander Steen and David Perron each had two assists.
Jack Eichel scored, and Carter Hutton made 28 saves for the Sabres (21-12-5), who have lost three of their past four and nine of 13 (4-6-3) since their 10-game winning streak. Hutton spent the past two seasons in St. Louis before signing a three-year contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Sabres on July 1.
Thomas gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 2:03 of the second period.
Bouwmeester scored at 10:01 to make it 2-0, and Maroon scored 54 seconds later at 10:55 for a 3-0 lead.
Eichel’s power-play goal at 17:25 of the second made it 3-1.
O’Reilly scored at 13:47 of the third for a 4-1 lead.