McDavid looks to avenge October 'thumping' in Eichel showdown

Connor McDavid isn't thinking so much about Jack Eichel. He's thinking about Oct. 16.

Buffalo was in Edmonton that night, and the Oilers were coming off two straight wins to start the season. The Sabres put an end to that mini run, spanking the home team 6-2. It was one of only two games the Oilers lost in October.

On the weekend, McDavid was asked about his first game against Eichel, last season on March 1. The Oilers won 2-1, with No. 97 scoring both goals, including the overtime winner. Good times.

"I do remember that game," McDavid said, according to NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "It was definitely a good one for our team, but they gave us a pretty good thumping here when they played us earlier this year, so we owe them one."

Eichel sat out the October game, his ankle not yet ready for action. This time he's back, and while he tweaked his ankle Monday, the Sabres announced he'll be in the lineup against Edmonton.

The second overall pick to McDavid in 2015, Eichel scored his team's lone goal against the Oilers in March. The two young stars will forever be linked, and even spent some time as teammates during the World Cup of Hockey in the fall.

McDavid says Eichel is as much a personality as he is a player.

"He's a little bit more animated than he leads on. He's definitely a good guy."

On this night, though, he's the enemy.

Interestingly enough, both players head into Tuesday night's affair with 27 goals on their NHL resumes: