Eichel - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Jack Eichel tells Maple Leafs fans to sit down after scoring in Sabres win

BUFFALO – Jack Eichel smirked when he heard the question. The captain had just scored the game-winning goal, igniting a late outburst that cemented a critical victory against the Sabres’ fiercest rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Clearly, Eichel revels in beating the Leafs and sending their legions of loud fans – they comprised at least 60% of Sunday’s capacity crowd inside KeyBank Center – home unhappy.

“I enjoy it,” was all Eichel would say following ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel sad to see close friend Zach Bogosian waived, leave Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres captain Jack Eichel said he had to stop talking about defenseman Zach Bogosian before he became emotional.

Over five seasons, the teammates grew incredibly tight, becoming “probably even closer than friends,” Eichel said.

“He’s somebody that I went to for just about anything in my life,” Eichel said shortly after Bogosian cleared waivers Saturday and the Sabres assigned him to the Rochester Americans. “He’s been there since I was a rookie.”

Now, ... Read the full article

Victor Olofsson returns in grand fashion, leads Sabres to overtime win

BUFFALO – After missing six weeks of action, Sabres winger Victor Olofsson needed some time to adjust.

For the first two periods of Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Swedish rookie generated little offense.

“I got a little rust in my game there,” Olofsson said after scoring two goals, including the winner 2:44 into overtime.

By the end of Thursday’s thrilling come-from-behind victory, Olofsson kept showcasing the talents – his quick ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Victor Olofsson, Kyle Okposo could return from injuries Thursday

BUFFALO – When Sabres winger Victor Olofsson started practicing again Saturday, coach Ralph Krueger said the rookie might need another week before he could play.

But Olofsson went full tilt this afternoon, taking reps in his normal spots beside captain Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and down low on the power play.

Meanwhile, Kyle Okposo, who returned for Tuesday’s morning skate, practiced in his regular spot at right wing with center Johan Larsson and ... Read the full article

Goalie Carter Hutton difference-maker in Sabres’ win over Red Wings

BUFFALO – Suddenly, goalie Carter Hutton has morphed into a difference-maker again, helping the Sabres secure tight games by making clutch stops in the waning minutes.

Hutton struggled for months, losing the No. 1 job and 13 straight starts. Before Linus Ullmark suffered a lower-body injury, he had become a spare part, only playing when the Sabres had back-to-back games.

But in the last week, Hutton, 34, has began showcasing the early-season form that helped ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Ralph Krueger believes Jack Eichel equipped to handle big ice time

BUFFALO – After skating a career-high 28 minutes, 22 seconds in Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Sabres captain Jack Eichel ranks second among NHL forwards in ice time, trailing only Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl.

Through 55 appearances, Eichel has averaged a whopping 22:08 – 18 seconds less than Draisaitl.

With very few scoring options at his disposal, Sabres coach Ralph Krueger has been running Eichel ragged, skating him at least 20 ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Jeff Skinner battling marathon slump, still playing down lineup

BUFFALO – At worst, you figured Sabres winger Jeff Skinner would score 25 or 30 goals this season. But having performed so dynamically most of last year, hitting 35 or even 40 again seemed possible.

Skinner and top Sabres captain Jack Eichel formed a lethal duo a year ago. For the first time in his career, Skinner, 27, had an elite center feeding him the puck, and he responded by scoring 40 goals.

When ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ryan Miller’s win in Buffalo special to goalie, Ducks

BUFFALO – On Thursday, the Sabres will celebrate “2000s Night,” bringing back Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell and some other key figures from their wildly successful 2005-06 and 2006-07 teams that reached the Eastern Conference final.

Ryan Miller, the star goalie those seasons, can’t make it. As the only active NHL player left from those popular clubs, he will be in Anaheim for the Ducks’ game against the Calgary Flames.

“I’m actually going to ... Read the full article

Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson practices, nearing return from lower-body injury

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Victor Olofsson said he has never experienced anything like the lower-body injury that has sidelined him the last 13 games.

In his first seven years as a pro, the high-scoring Swede showcased terrific durability, never missing more than a couple weeks of action.

Then on Jan. 2 against the Edmonton Oilers, Olofsson’s left skate got caught in the ice, causing him to fall backwards.

“It was unfortunate, no one around me, ... Read the full article

Sabres suffer awful shootout loss to hapless Red Wings

BUFFALO – The 4-3 shootout loss was even hard for Ralph Krueger to spin. The coach explained the Sabres’ inability to convert their chances doomed them Thursday against the hapless Detroit Red Wings. He insisted his reeling team’s effort remained high.

But there’s no getting around the Sabres suffered a humiliating defeat. The Red Wings, the NHL’s worst team, are on pace for the worst season since the NHL implemented the salary cap in 2005.... Read the full article