Things keep getting worse for the hapless Buffalo Sabres.
An upper-body injury will keep Sabres captain Jack Eichel out of tonight’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced this morning.
Eichel appeared to hurt his neck when Casey Cizikas hit him behind the net late in Sunday afternoon’s 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders. The NBC broadcast showed the center in discomfort on the bench moments later.
“All I can tell you is he’s definitely not playing tonight and he’s being evaluated,” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said on a Zoom call this morning from Wells Fargo Center.
Rookie Dylan Cozens, 20, will replace Eichel on the top line between Taylor Hall and Sam Reinhart, Krueger said.
The Sabres have lost seven straight games.
Eichel has struggled offensively this season, scoring just two goals and 18 points in 21 outings. A lower-body injury sidelined Eichel two games last month.
Eichel in discomfort around the neck #LetsGoBuffalo #Isles #HDIA pic.twitter.com/IJtbL7TGpk
— Buffalo Hockey moments (@SabresPlays) March 7, 2021