Eichel - Buffalo Hockey Beat

All-around effort helps Sabres beat Oilers, end losing streak

BUFFALO – By Jack Eichel’s standards, the shot the Sabres center pumped on Edmonton Oilers goalie Laurent Brossoit 43 seconds into the third period of Friday’s 3-1 win was pretty weak.

Eichel possesses a lethal wrist shot, a weapon the Sabres sorely want the slick youngster to utilize more frequently. Of course, plenty of players must develop a shooting mentality.

Following the second period of a victory that ended the Sabres’ seven-game losing streak, coach ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen ready to play against Oilers

BUFFALO – Expect the Sabres to run defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen ragged tonight during his return from an upper-body injury.

“When he says that he’s ready, he’s ready,” coach Phil Housley said this morning after the Sabres prepared for the Edmonton Oilers. “We’re going to play him in all situations like we have in the past. I don’t see anything wrong moving forward.”... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres lacking accountability among players

BUFFALO – Jordan Nolan grew up in a winning culture. The Sabres winger won two Stanley Cups in his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.

To Nolan, the Kings’ accountability helped buoy their success. If you made a mistake or needed a push, someone would tell you.

“If I made a mistake in my fifth year, a higher guy was telling me, ‘You need to work harder, you need to get that puck ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella learned from Wild tenure

BUFFALO – While perhaps a step slower at 34 years old, Sabres winger Jason Pominville still showcases many of the talents that have helped him score 267 goals and once made him an NHL All-Star.

Wednesday against his old team, the Minnesota Wild, Pominville will likely be reunited with center Jack Eichel and Evander Kane. At an age when most players are retired or graying, Pominville is still playing on a top scoring line.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jacob Josefson ready to play

BUFFALO – Following his first full team practice since spraining his ankle Oct. 15, Sabres center Jacob Josefson pronounced himself ready to play.

“I’m anxious to get in,” Josefson said this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. “I’ve been on the side a while. I’m ready whenever they want me.”

So will Josefson, who has missed 15 games, return for Wednesday’s home tilt against the Minnesota Wild?... Read the full article

Sabres’ late rally falls short against Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – Twenty-one games into another lost season, the Sabres have developed a penchant for playing some of their best hockey down multiple goals late in contests.

It happened again Monday, a game they trailed by three goals halfway through the third period before roaring back and nearly tying it.

What suddenly changed? After all, they generated little against the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first 50 minutes.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel shuffled around lineup against Blue Jackets

BUFFALO – The optics showed Jack Eichel had been demoted. For most of Monday, the slick Sabres center skated between Zemgus Girgensons and Jason Pominville, one of four new lines coach Phil Housley assembled.

Based on recent production, the trio Eichel briefly skated on was the third line. Just don’t tell Housley.

“There’s no third line,” Housley said prior to Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jordan Nolan must finish scoring chances

BUFFALO – The Sabres forward who generated the best scoring chances over the weekend wasn’t Jack Eichel, Evander Kane or another high-priced talent.

Try winger Jordan Nolan, the only regular Sabres forward still goalless this season. Nolan missed a breakaway Friday and Saturday.

“I just got to kind of have a little more confidence and know you’re going to put it in rather than thinking about it too much, I’m doing that,” Nolan said ... Read the full article

Line switches put Sabres’ Jack Eichel with new wingers

BUFFALO – The optics say Jack Eichel has been demoted. This morning, the slick Sabres center skated between Zemgus Girgensons and Jason Pominville, one of four new lines coach Phil Housley assembled.

Based on recent production, Eichel’s trio is the third line. Just don’t tell Housley, whose Sabres have lost five straight games (0-3-2).

“There’s no third line,” Housley said this morning after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets inside ... Read the full article

Reeling Sabres generate little early, lose to Hurricanes

BUFFALO – Fresh off an uninspired loss that rankled coach Phil Housley and, allegedly, his players, the Sabres responded by going the first 17 minutes without a shot on goal.

Oh, the Sabres still generated a scoring chance early in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. For the second straight night, fourth-line winger Jordan Nolan, who has a 24-game goal drought dating back to Jan. 31, enjoyed a rare breakaway.

Nolan missed the ... Read the full article