Connor: "Hey, Eichel you've scored 12G,12A in your last 16 games"
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 24, 2018
Jack: "That's how I roll, kid"#Sabres pic.twitter.com/t4BznxV1DD
Jack Eichel is on fire!
The Buffalo Sabres All Star center had himself a night in Buffalo’s 5-0 clubbing of Connor McDavid and the Oilers. Eichel skated into Connor McDavid's house and dropped a goal and three assists on the Oilers. McDavid was held pointless and had just three shots on goal.
You think it was a coincidence that Eicheltied a career high for points in Connor McDavid's house? Nope. It was intentional. Eichel dunked on McDavid and the woeful Oilers, then hung on the rim to celly his accomplishment.
Eichel scored his 20th goal of the season and added three helpers.
Eichel is in a seven-game point streak, with 14 points (5G,9A) in those games.
Eichel now has 49 points in 48 games played this season. That's pretty good point production, right?
The last Sabres player to average a point a game was Alex Mogilny in 1990-91 (1.03).
It’s safe to say that a Eichel has earned the right to wear the “C… on his sweater. What are Phil Housley and Jason Botterill waiting for already? The Sabres have played the full season without one defined captain. Their season has been a nightmare. Housley tried the “leadership by committee… approach and it hasn’t worked. Eichel is the face of the Sabres franchise and their undisputed leader. Give him the “C…. He has earned it.
The Boston University product is on a torrid scoring pace that placed him among the elite scorers in the NHL. Eichel has totaled 25 points (12G,13A) in his last 16 games, dating back to December 15.
Eichel is currently on pace to obliterate his personal bests in goals (24), assists (33) and points (57) on the strength of improved production at even strength.
Eichel’s 35th even-strength point in his 48th game of the season in Edmonton surpassed his total from last season (61 games). Eichel has 18 even strength goals and 17 even strength helpers. He has 12 PP points and 3 shorthanded points.
Of Jack Eichel’s 49 points this season, 24 have been goals or primary assists recorded during 5-on-5 play (excludes 6-on-5 situations).
Through 48 games, Eichel’s 24 primary points (12G,12A) during 5-on-5 play have already surpassed his 61-game total from last season (11G,10A). Eichel is now tied with his even strength point output from his rookie year.
Eichel needs just one more point this season to join Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, Phil Housley and Christian Ruuttu as the only Buffalo Sabres players to score at least 50 points in each of their first three NHL seasons.