In a somewhat surprising move, Dan Bylsma moved Samson Reinhart back to Jack Eichel's wing on Monday.
Richie Cunningham and The Fonz. Bert and Ernie. Batman and Robin. Butch and Sundance.
Eichel and Reinhart.
They are awesome players in their own individual right. Together, the Eichel-Reinhart power dup can be downright lethal.
Welcome to Dan Bylsma's line juggling reality.
If it ain't broke, break it.
Sabres fans will be downright giddy when they see numbers 82-15-23 rolling as a trio against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
In recent games, Bylsma has iced a center-centric lineup with ROR, Eichel and Reinhart as his top three pivots. Also, Eichel has been a bit, shall I say, salty in the past ten days. Jack erupted in the Buffalo locker room after consecutive losses to the Boston Bruins. He called out his teammates and implored them all to look in the mirror and ask if they are giving their very best. The Sabres responded by spanking Hank Lundqvist and the NY Rangers by a 4-1 score. When the Sabres blew a 3-2 third period lead in and lost in OT in Chicago last Thursday night, Eichel went off again. Eichel's message was loud and clear: Don't be satisfied with "earning loser points. Eichel demands a ton from himself and therefore demands the same from his teammates. Jack has been leading from the front like a grizzled NHL veteran. Perhaps Bylsma is rewarding the 20 year old with a reunion with Reinhart, his best friend, roommate and fellow second overall pick in the NHL Draft.
Bylsma likes Reinhart at center but also like him in the top six group as well.
Here are the new trios:
Foligno-Eichel-Reinhart Carrier-O'Reilly-Okposo Kane-Girgensons-Gionta Deslauriers-Grant-Moulson
*Ennis, Bailey extra forwards
Eichel has three goals and three assists in his last six games. Reinhart has two goals and seven assists in nine his last nine games.
Bylsma is doubling down on 15 and 23 to blow up and create more scoring while playing together.
Eichel’s will play his 100th career NHL game against Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
I feel like Bylsma is saying to Eiche:
Happy anniversary, Jack.Sorry for leaving you off the ice in the OT loss in Chicago and for taking you off the first team power play unit in Carolina last month. I know it pissed you off. Here's your present. His name is Samson. Now lead us to the playoffs.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Eichel’s point totals through the first 99 games of his NHL career already rank him in the top 15 in franchise history among players through their first 100 career games in goals (32,12th), assists (38, 13th) and points (70, 15th).
Among all Buffalo Sabres in the 47 year franchise history with at least 100 games played for the team, Eichel’s current rates would rank him 22nd in goals per game (.32), 36th in assists per game (.38) and 27th in points per game (.71).
Playing in the second NHL seasons, Eichel and Reinhart have each improved on their points per game totals from the 2015-16 season .
2015-16 Jack Eichel G/GP .30 (25) A/GP .40 (33) P/GP .69 (57) SOG/GP 2.9 (238)Samson Reinhart
.29 (24) .24 (20) .53 (43) 2.1 (172)
2016-17
Jack Eichel
G/GP .44 (36) A/GP .33 (27) P/GP .78 (64) SOG/GP 3.8 (312)
Samson Reinhart
21 (17) .41 (34) .62 (51) 2.2 (180)
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At the lonely end of the rink, Dmitry Kulikov (back) and Josh Gorges (hip, foot) missed practice on Monday.
Bylsma rolled these duos:
McCabe-Ristolainen Bogosian-Franson Falk-Fedun
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Patrik Laine was in better physical and psychological shape on Monday than he was Saturday afternoon after the rookie sniper was knocked out of the game after a high speed, head to head crash with Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe.
"He (Laine) had a big smile on his face yesterday (Sunday)," Jets head coach Paul Maurice told reporters. "He's in the room, smiling, giggling, taking shots from the guys.
"He seems good."
Great news.
Maurice wouldn't take the bait and give a prediction of when the second overall selection at the 2016 NHL Draft will be returning to work. Laine has scored 37 points on 21 goals and 16 assists this season. Laine leads Auston Matthews and all NHL rookies in scoring.
The Jets have not nor will not setba minimum timeline on when Laine will return to the starting lineup. On Monday, Paul Maurice told Winnipeg Media that he will not be giving daily updates on Laine's status.
"I won't be giving you a daily temperature reading."
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Dan Bylsma and the Buffalo Sabres are making progress as they continue to four wheel drive their way up and out of the icy ravine on the side of the road known as the Atlantic Division standings.
Boston has 47 points in 43 games Ottawa has 46 points in 39 games Toronto has 42 points in 39 games Florida has 42 points in 41 games Tampa has 42 points in 42 games Buffalo has 39 points in 39 games Detroit has 39 points in 39 games
The Sabres, winner of five of their last six points in the Atlantic standings, are trending up.
The Sabres host Philly in Tuesday night and may be getting one of their injured forwards back from injury.
Tyler Ennis practiced in full, sans red sweater, on Monday. Ennis also participated and fared well in battle drills.
Ennis said after the skate that he is close to returning to the lineup after missing 26 games due to his recent groin surgery. Ennis struggled during the 12 games he played earlier this season. The multi-time 20 goal man scored just one goal and one assist in 12 games.
On November 9, Ennis was placed on injured reserve after it was determined that he needed the growing surgery. Ennis likely over-trained in the gym and on the ice last summer as he recovered from the two concussions that forced him to miss 61 games in /l2015-16.
The next step in the process to get cleared to play is Ennis will meet with his coaches and team doctors. Ennis told reporters he will not rule out playing against the Flyers on Tuesday night.
Ennis said it was a hard day, but a good day in terms of performing up to the physical demands placed in him. Dan Bylsma pushed Ennis through a rigorous post-practice skating drill to test his agility. Ennis said afterwards that he still has a lot to give physically and the he would like to partake of more tough practices to test his core and lower body.
If Ennis doesn't return Tuesday night at home, he may play in Tampa on Thursday night.
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Congratulations to Sabres legend Patrick Kaleta and his lovely wife Ashley on the birth of their first child, Cooper.