Beware The Eichs Of March https://t.co/kmrX7Z40o2 pic.twitter.com/ntXLIxEfOr
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 4, 2018
Four weeks ago, the face fo the Buffalo Sabres and NHL All Star Jack Eichel suffered a brutal high ankle sprain injury while playing in his hometown of Boston.
The Sabres listed Eichel as out indefinitely.
On Saturday, Eichel skated on his own.
Sabres head coach updated Eichel's situation after Sunday's practice. Will Eichel be finding his way back to the starting lineup by mid-March?
"That's the goal, but we never know how these things react," Housley told the team's website. "We don't want to put any timeline on it. It's good to see him skating. I think that's a step in the right direction. Obviously, he wants to play some games before the end of the year."
So Jack Eichel skated Saturday #Sabres pic.twitter.com/aDm18juPro
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 4, 2018
Despite missing the last ten games, Eichel is still Buffalo's leading scorer with 21 goals and 31 assists in 55 games played.
Last season, Eichel missed the first 21 games of the 2016-17 season due to a high ankle sprain in his left ankle. This season, its a right ankle sprain.
Hope Eichel is okay, this didn’t look good pic.twitter.com/sTkAmK7pnb
— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) February 11, 2018
Eichel had been the lone glimmer of sunshine in an otherwise dark and dreary season.
Eichel's injury came at a time when he was playing elite level hockey.
At the time of his injury, Eichel had scored 34 points on 15 goals and 19 assists in 30 games since the beginning of December.
During that stretch, Eichel ranked in the top 10 in the NHL in goals (tied for 7th, 15), points (tied for 5th, 34), even-strength goals (tied for 4th, 12) and shots (3rd, 120).
Eichel scored at least two goals in four of those 30 games.
Despite the injury, Eichel is currently on pace to surpass his personal bests in goals (24), assists (33) and points (57) on the strength of improved production at even strength.
Eichel’s 16 multi-point games this season in 55 games have already tied his career best set in 2016-17.
With his 17th even-strength goal in his 44th game of the season on January 11 vs. Columbus, Eichel surpassed his career-best total from 2015-16 (81 games). In 55 games, Eichel scored 19 even-strength goals.
With his 36th even-strength point in his 53rd game of the season on February 7 vs. Anaheim, Eichel surpassed his career-best total from 2015-16 (81 games). Through 55 games, Eichel has 38 even-strength points.
Of Eichel’s 53 points scored this season, 24 have been goals or primary assists recorded during 5-on-5 play (excludes 6-on-5 situations).
In 55 games, Eichel’s 24 primary points (13G,11A) during 5-on-5 play have already surpassed his 61-game total from last season (11G,10A) and tied his career-best total from his 81-game rookie season (12G,12A).
Eichel would love nothing more to return to the Buffalo Sabres lineup and to resume the leadership role he established before his injury.
Another incentive for Eichel to return is he is hopeful that Phil Houlsey will consider reuniting the Rodrigues-Eichel-O'Regan Boston Terrier scoring trio that terrorized the NCAA in 2014-2015.
Danny O'Regan, who was acquired from San Jose in the Evander Kane trade, already has scored two goals in his forst two games for the Rochester Amerks. Evan Rodrigues has 3 goals and 5 assists in the 10 games that Eichel has missed due to injury.
The next two weeks are going to be interesting in Buffalo. Will the Sabres be breaking the news that Eichel is being shut down for the rest of the regular season to prevent against another injury to his ankle? Or, will they green light him for a return to action
***
With Evand Rodrigues dinged with a rib injury and Marco Scandella nursing an ailment of his own, Housley will have two more youngsters in the lineup when the Sabres visit the Maple Leafs on Monday night.
Top organizational defenseman Brendan Guhle has gotten the call. In 47 games this season, Guhle has scored 8 goals and 16 assists.
In 50 games this season, Criscuolo has scored 15 goals and 19 assists.
NEWS: We've recalled forward Kyle Criscuolo and defenseman Brendan Guhle from @AmerksHockey. pic.twitter.com/mrlzEk9Ttp
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 4, 2018
**
Buffalo's 2016 first round pick Alex Nylander is playing like a man who wants to play in the NHL this season.
@snipeshow98 has extended his points streak to 5 games. Nylander has 3G,6A in his last 9 games #Sabres
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 4, 2018
***
Vancouver Canucks are shutting down forward Sven Baertschi for rest of season due to shoulder separation. Other Canucks on IR: Ericksson, Tanev, Granund, Gaunce. Canucks have 57 points, Senators 54, #Sabres 51 points, Coyotes 50. Vancouver want to make a play for Dahlin pic.twitter.com/QR4mft13Kj
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) March 4, 2018