Updated:
Thanks, Sabres.com
Jack Eichel and Dan Bylsma have confirmed it. Eichel will return to the starting lineup tonight in Ottawa.
Bylsma said after the morning skate that having Jack back will help kick start his lineys and D pairs. Bylsma attacks opponents with five man units. Eichel makes his five man units harder to play against.
"The trickledown effect of having Jack back in your lineup, I think it makes a lot of other people fit better."
Bylsma wants Eichel to ignite the offensive blast furnace. His line mates Evander Kane and Samson Reinhart have just 4 goals and 76 shots between them. Kane has a bagel in the goal column in the ten games he's played in since returning from cracked ribs.
Nothing like heaping a ton of pressure on a 19 year old kid to kickstart a stagnant offense. Jack eats it up. He's one of the best players in the world and does not shy away from the bright lights and the pressure. Jack devours these moments like TimBits. I like Eich to score in his first game of the season against the Senators, just like he did in 2015-16 season opener.
Puck drop 7:30pm in Kanata.
**
I was close. But no cigar.
When Eichel was first injured, I predicted he would return on Black Friday in Washingtin.
***
Happy Jack Eichel Day.
It's the day that Buffalo Sabres fans have prayed for the past seven weeks.
Eichel suffered a a high ankle sprain on October 12.
Eichel practiced four times with his teammates in the past week. Buffalo bench boss Dan Bylsma has been pleased with the progression that Eichel has shown the Buffalo hierarchy. Eichel's skating has been crisp, powerful, and purposeful. The most important thing is that Eichel has ramped up his on ice workouts to the point where he is proficient and pain free.
Eichel will play his first game of the season in Ottawa tonight.
I urge Eichel to be aware that Dion Phaneuf and the Sens will be targeting his ankle. Phaneuf will hack and slash Eichel's ankle. The kid has to expect to be taken advantage of while posting up in the slot and crease.
The have won four straight games and are feeling good about themselves.
The Sabres have done yeomans work to achieve 19 points during Eichel's 21 game hiatus. The Sabres enter tonight's game just six points out of an Eastern Conference wild card berth.
Having Jack Eichel Back in the lineup will kick start Buffalo's offense which has been virtually nonexistent for the past seven weeks. The Sabres have played 13 games in November and have only scored 19 goals for.
For the first time this season, Bylsma will be rolling four balanced forward lines. Eichel's return to the lineup creates equilibrium on each trio.
Evander Kane and Samson Reinhart need a distributor to feed them and Eichel is the man for the job.
Ryan O'Reilly will center for Matt Moulson and Kyle a Okposo.
Marcus Foligno will be reunited with his regular line mates Johan Larsson and Brian
Derek Grant will center for Will Carrier and Zemgus Girgensons.
The Sabres are six points out of a wild card position and will kickoff a segment where they will play 15 games between today and New Years Day. Buffalo will play 14 games in December. Eichel will be tested early and often to score goals and create chances for his teammates who have struggled to score even strength goals in his 21 game absence. The Sabres have scored just 24 goals at 5v5 in Eichel's injury absence. The Buffalo power play has already scored 14 PPG this season and Eichel will add more scoring punch to an already electrifying power play unit.
Eichel's objective is to remain healthy and increase his scoring from his rookie season. Eichel scored 24G and 32A in 81 games last.
Join the Discussion:
»