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Jack Eichel's dream season continues to impress his Buffalo Sabres faithful and hockey fans around the world.
Eichel scored his career-high 30th goal of the season on Carey Price on power play goal to give his Sabres the 1-0 first period lead.
Eichel joins Nathan MacKinnon and David Pastrnak as the third NHL player to achieve the 30-30 plateau this season.
Only four different players in Sabres history have scored 30 goals and 30 assists in fewer games than the three time NHL All Star center.
Eichel is the first Sabres player to record 30 goals and 30 assists in a season since Jason Pominville scored 30G,43A in 2011-12.
Eichel is the 23rd different player in franchise history to accomplish the 30-30 feat at least once. The GOAT Sabres player of all time, Gilbert Perreault, reached the 30-30 accolade a franchise-record 10 times during his 17-season career.
Eichel achieved his 30-30 combo in 50 games played, matching Perreault’s personal best for fewest games needed to get to 30 goals and 30 assists (1974-75).
Only five Sabres have tallied 30 goals and 30 assists in a season in fewer than 50 games played:
Pat LaFontaine, 1991-92: 31 GP Pat LaFontaine, 1992-93: 42 GP Rick Martin, 1974-75: 47 GP Alexander Mogilny, 1992-93: 47 GP Rene Robert, 1972-73: 48 GP
#Sabres Jack EIchel celebrates his 30th of the season against Montreal. pic.twitter.com/pirYJMCc3t
— Harry Scull Jr (@hsjrphoto) January 31, 2020
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Hello out there. We're on the air. It's hockey night tonight.
Two teams stuck in the middle, the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens, are each stuck on 51 points and in desperate need of two points tonight.
#Sabres50 and Canadiens will enter the steel cage tonight. with two HUGE points on the line in tthe Eastern wild card grudge match. Much work to be done pic.twitter.com/De3Z6FgVTW
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 30, 2020
Buckle your chinstrap, folks.
Those patrons with weak stomachs should leave now. The Sabres will have to ride veteran Carter Hutton for the long haul. The 34 year old veteran is 0-7-4 in his last 11 sytarts after he went 6-0-0 to begin the 2019-20 season.
The loser of this game will be dangling precariously from the brink of being trade deadline sellers.
The Sabres have to earn 46 points in their final 32 games to give themselves a chance to earn a wild card. The Habs have 31 games remaining in their season.
By my count, there are representatives here tonight from 25-27 NHL clubs.
The buzzards are circling the barn.
Press box staff brewing more coffee. Its an NHL dignitary and scout convention tonight #BuzzardsOverTheBarn
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 30, 2020
For the second game in a row, there are a bevy of NHL dignitaries and scouts onboard tonight.
Most notably, the Detroit Red Wings, NY Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, Nasvhille Predators, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Wings GM Steve Yzerman is not in attendance tonight, however, his assistant general manager and his senior pro scout are here. The Buffalo press box has become a time share for Yzerman and his henchmen.
The Sabres are looking for top six forward help while the Wings desperately need a top four defenseman.
The Red Wings are diving to the ocean floor and are will to listen on all players not named Dylan Larkin. I’m hearing the Sabres have interest in power forward Tyler Bertuzzi. The Sabres have defensemen and goalies of the future to trade for Bertuzz (6’1… and 200 lbs.).
Wings desperately need defensemen, goaltending for the future. #Sabres50 need a top six forward. Tyler Bertuzzi is a highly sought after forward right now. The winger is big, fast, skilled, and strong. Andreas Athanasiou has been available. Anthony Mantha is injured
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 31, 2020
Bertuzzi, 24, has 17G,19A this season. He’s playing in an expiring $1.4M AAV and is pending RFA. In 179 career NHL games, Bertuzzi has scored 45G, 62A
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) January 31, 2020
Jason Botterill can send right D-men Colin Miller and Zach Bogosian, plus forward Evan Rodrigues to Motown
For the second consecutive game the Rangers have sent a pro scout to Buffalo. When Jeff Goretn and Chris Drury send two different scouts to Buffalo in a 48 hour time span, you take notice. The Rangers have pending UFA and disgruntled prospect Lias Andersson to use as currency to acquire a top four defenseman like Colin Miller.
Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff seemingly is taking copious notes on Sabres' right D Colin Miller.
The Sharks have lost All Star forward Tomas Hertl for the season after the snipper blew out his ACL and MCL on Wednesday night. Sharks GM Doug Wilson has forwards Kevin Labanc and Melker Karlsson to trade. Wilson badly needs a 2020 first round draft choice and will have a tough time landing one now that Hertl and Logan Couture are out long term. Botterill has Colin Miller and Zach Bogosian, who played with Sharks forward Evander Kane in Buffalo and Winnipeg
Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin is looking to trade forward Jason Zucker now and get himself defensive help in a hurry. See Colin Miller.
The Stanley Cup champion Blues are looking for forward depth for their bottom six and defensive depth. Zemgus Girgensons, Evan Rodrigues and Johan Larsson can be had. A senior member of Blues management is here tonight. The Sabres sure could use a bull dog forward like Sammy Blais.
The Blue Jackets have foward Josh Anderson to trade away for a right shot defenseman. Colin Miller? Zach Bogosian? Plus Evan Rodrigues and Conor Sheary. The Sabres will host the Jax on Satutrday, however, why is there a front office suit here tonight with area scout?
The Blackhawks are looking to move veteran winger Brandon Saad and they need a a veteran defenseman. Stan Bowman has sent his special advisior and a scout to Buffalo tonight to presumably watch Colin Miller and Conor Sheary.
I'm hearing the Predators may be willing to trade veteran center Ryan Johansen for a top four D. Colin Miller and Zach Bogosian is a package deal with a forward (Zemgus Girgensons, Conor Sheary) and a prospect might land Johansen.
The Vegas Golden Knights need Colin Miller back. They can have him in exchange for either William Karlsson or Alex Tuch.
Other clubs in attendance tonight include: the Kings NY Islanders, Vancouver, Maple Leafs and Oilers.
Jason Botterill has do make a trade now to keep his team in the wild card hunt. A portion of the fan base is gripping the stick hard. Hell hath no fury like a Sabres fans scorned.