Reinhart - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres’ Evander Kane searching for first goal

OTTAWA – Five years ago, Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane enjoyed the best start of his eight-year career, scoring 18 times in his first 36 games for the Winnipeg Jets, a torrid 41-goal pace over a full season.

Then, in the midst of his career year, Kane suddenly endured an 11-game goal drought.

“Maybe I could’ve scored 40 if I didn’t have that slump,” Kane said to Tuesday prior to recording an assist in the ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel ready for season debut

OTTAWA – The 21-game wait is over. Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel, sidelined by a high left ankle sprain for almost seven weeks, will make his season debut tonight against the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Eichel can still feel the injury he sustained late in practice Oct. 12, the eve of the season opener. Still, it doesn’t restrict the second-year star.

“You can notice it at all times, to be honest,” ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel’s presence provides sense of relief for Sabres

OTTAWA – The smiles told the story. They adorned the faces of Jack Eichel’s Buffalo Sabres teammates and his coach, Dan Bylsma, who looked relieved his young star could make his season debut tonight against the Senators.

Eichel, meanwhile, tried to keep his emotions in check following a 50-minute practice Monday inside KeyBank Center. The second-year center said he has passed every hurdle – “No real restrictions,” he said – in his recovery from a ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel could play Tuesday

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jack Eichel refused to say if he plans to make his season debut Tuesday. Coach Dan Bylsma would only say “there’s a possibility.”

But Eichel, out since suffering a high left ankle sprain Oct. 12, skated between his regular linemates, Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart, this morning during practice. Eichel also manned a point during power-play drills.

All signs point to Eichel, 20, playing in the road game against the Ottawa Senators.... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jack Eichel nearing return

BUFFALO – Given Jack Eichel’s workload so far in practice – the talented Sabres center has only participated in a couple of battle drills and lines rushes – it seems unlikely he could return from a high left ankle sprain Tuesday.

But Eichel, 20, keeps making positive progress. Today inside HarborCenter, Eichel briefly bumped with some teammates and skated beside Evander Kane, his regular left winger late last season, and a couple of right wingers.... Read the full article

Sabres lose to Red Wings in shootout, miss chance to reach .500

BUFFALO – Coach Dan Bylsma heard the words – his Sabres had just missed a chance to hit .500 – and banged the podium out of frustration before a reporter could finish his question.

In a season full of close losses, Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout setback to the Detroit Red Wings might’ve hurt the most. The Sabres couldn’t convert several prime scoring chances throughout the night, including a few in overtime.

The 7-8-5 Sabres, a team ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Cal O’Reilly’s hot start with Amerks rewarded

BUFFALO – Some heads turned when the Sabres awarded center Cal O’Reilly, a talented minor leaguer almost four years removed from his last NHL game, a two-year, $1.4 million contract in 2015.

But O’Reilly, the AHL’s leading scorer, has morphed into a valuable asset for the organization, captaining the Rochester Americans and providing depth for the Sabres.

O’Reilly, 30, proved that Saturday just hours after earning a recall, scoring the shootout winner in the ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Anders Nilsson to start against Penguins

BUFFALO – Toward the end of the morning skate, backup goalie Anders Nilsson, not Robin Lehner, started skating to the Sabres bench.

Would Sabres coach Dan Bylsma really start his backup against the Pittsburgh Penguins over Lehner, his starter who has played 13 of the first 17 games?

After fiddling with his sticks at the bench for a few moments – it almost seemed like Nilsson was teasing everyone trying to see if he ... Read the full article

Sabres’ offense struggling to score again

BUFFALO – With a slew of established, high-priced forwards and two talented youngsters poised to break out following terrific rookie seasons, the days of the Sabres owning one of the NHL’s worst offenses appeared to be over.

But 15 games into another tough season, the Sabres have scored only 29 goals, a paltry 1.93 a contest, the league’s worst figure entering tonight’s road tilt against the St. Louis Blues.

The Sabres have scored two or ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Dmitry Kulikov out against Blues

BUFFALO – Some quick updates from HarborCenter, where the Sabres practiced about an hour this morning before flying to St. Louis:

– The Sabres plan to recall some players before Tuesday’s road tilt against the Blues. Only 17 players – 10 forwards, five defensemen and two goalies – practiced today.

They need a defenseman and at least one forward. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (undisclosed injury) missed today’s practice and will miss his third straight game Tuesday, ... Read the full article