Sabres coach says it’s possible Eichel plays at Ottawa

O’Reilly extended Buffalo’s lead to 5-3 with a power-play goal with 3:17 left.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) – Jack Eichel finally made his season debut and gave the Buffalo Sabres a big boost.

But two points before the first period was half over?

Senators coach Guy Boucher was full of compliments for Sabres star Jack Eichel, who opened the game with a first-period power-play goal and power-play assist. I wouldn’t expect Eichel to get his normal 19 to 20 minutes of ice time per game right away.

It was a solid first step for Eichel and the Sabres.

The Buffalo Sabres are ecstatic to have Jack Eichel back.

Mike Hoffman had three goals and an assist for the Senators. Coming off of the type of injury he suffered, the 19-year-old will need to be given a few games to get back in the flow of National Hockey League action. Nilsson stepped in and played pretty shaky compared to what we’ve seen from him early in the season.

Coach Bylsma says Robin Lehner has a hip injury & is day-to-day. He limped down the hall to the club’s dressing room with 2:21 left in the first after stopping five shots and didn’t return but was on the bench.

Petr Mrazek made 34 saves and Detroit held on to defeat Dallas at Joe Louis Arena for a come-from-behind win. O’Reilly began the night goalless in his last six games.

“It just brings a little more confidence to the group, a little more positive attitude”, Foligno said, via the Buffalo News.

The Sabres then eked out their third win in five games and their eighth this season.

During his rookie season, the No. 2 overall pick in 2015 posted 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 81 games.

“His ability to skate the puck was dynamic for us”, Bylsma said.

Both his points came on the power play, before the game was 10 minutes old. ABOUT THE SENATORS (14-7-1): Veteran netminder Craig Anderson has drawn effusive praise from his teammates for maintaining his focus while his wife is battling cancer.

“I have to give it the opponent”, Boucher said. Aside from a shift without a stick and a third period delay of game penalty Eichel looked great.

He said Tuesday afternoon he can still feel the injury he suffered October 12, although it doesn’t hinder him. On Tuesday morning Eichel said he was ready for action, even though he still felt some pain in his ankle. Hopefully they can keep that up and with Eichel at the center of our offensive gameplan, hopefully scoring goals will no longer be such a chore for the Buffalo Sabres.