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Tuesday 4 February 2020
Eichel vows 'wheels won't fall off' Sabres as in past years

By JOHN WAWROW should fuel us to continue
AP Hockey Writer to work in the right direc-
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sa- tion."
bres captain Jack Eichel is Buffalo's season has been
doing everything within his a series of peaks and val-
power to prevent his team leys, with the Sabres follow-
from falling into an all-too- ing a 9-2-1 start with a 1-7-2
familiar late-season rut. slump, before going 13-13-
The fifth-year player is en- 4 since.
joying a breakout season Krueger blames the incon-
with a career-best 31 goals sistencies on the team fail-
— seven of them game- ing to stick to fundamen-
winners — as he displays tals.
on-ice consistency. "Sometimes it takes pain
And then there are continu- like we're feeling right now
ing signs that the 23-year- to implement those (funda-
old is maturing into a well- mentals) to become nor-
rounded leader. mal for us, and they aren't
Eichel might still show an yet," Krueger said.
occasional outburst of Eichel has been the Sabres'
frustration, such as when one consistent bright spot
he smashed his stick over and is getting mentioned
Buffalo's net in the closing Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel (9) and Ottawa Senators defensemen Mike Reilly (5) compete as an NHL MVP candidate
moments of a 3-1 loss to for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Buffalo, N.Y. despite Buffalo's struggles.
Montreal last week. What's Associated Press He's fourth in the league
been more apparent is the in scoring and tied for sev-
self-restraint Eichel has dis- bres team that at 23-22-7 Ottawa and Montreal. looked around in the are- enth in points.
played in not allowing his opened this week 10 points The disgruntled masses na, even when the game Eichel has been held with-
emotions to roil into the fol- out of contention and is in gained a voice when was tied, there was nobody out a point 12 times this
lowing day. jeopardy of extending the 32-year-old fan Duane Stei- cheering. The atmosphere season, and just three times
"The biggest thing I think NHL's longest active playoff nel phoned into the Sa- was so bad, and it's been in his past 33 games – a
is being able to regroup," drought to a ninth year. bres' flagship station, WGR- like this for so long, man." stretch in which he's com-
he said, before pausing to And yet, the victory over Radio, to deliver a three- Two nights later, the Sabres bined for 23 goals and 23
gather his thoughts a day Columbus was significant in plus-minute tirade on the were booed off the ice assists.
after the loss to Montreal. how it briefly silenced a dis- franchise's shortcomings. against Montreal. Difficult as it might sound,
"It's not like last year," Eichel gruntled fan base voicing His criticisms ranged from First-year coach Ralph Eichel insisted he can do
said, referring to how Buf- its displeasure over a team questioning the Sabres' in- Krueger can feel the fans' more.
falo unraveled by turning a displaying modest hints of consistencies to citing issues pain, even though he's try- "Everyone needs to kind
17-6-2 start into a 33-39-10 development under its fifth beyond the team's control, ing to block it out so as not of look in the mirror and
finish that led to coach Phil coach and third general such as an inability to print to distract from his message expect more out of them-
Housley's firing. manager in six years. out-of-stock jerseys as part to the team. selves going forward. That
"We've been through these Goalie Carter Hutton ac- of the franchise's silver an- "It's not that we're sticking includes me," he said.
times where we take a knowledged the impor- niversary celebrations. our heads in the sand, and Though hopeful about the
couple of hits at this time tance of the win by saying: The clip went viral on social whatever noise is out there future, Eichel acknowl-
of year ... and then all of a "Everyone knows what's media and was picked up is out there," Krueger said. edged the team's inconsis-
sudden the wheels fall off," going on. We're not stupid. by radio stations in Cana- "But I really don't let it into tencies have worn on him.
he added. "That's not hap- The outside, and the pres- da. my head or my space be- "Wouldn't it wear on you?"
pening here." sure that comes with the "I just want (the Sabres) to cause I need to work with Eichel said. "Yeah, I think
The following day, Eichel situation we're in: So it was care. I just want them to this group on a daily basis it wears on everyone. But
backed up his words by a big answer today." matter again," Steinel told as constructively as pos- that's my job as a hockey
scoring 36 seconds into The Sabres spent much of The Associated Press on sible," he added. "Do fans player, as a leader, as a
overtime of a 2-1 victory last week careening to- Monday, saying his frustra- deserve to boo us after person, to be able to find
over Columbus. ward a state of crisis after tions were prompted by games like Ottawa and a way to regroup every
The win might mean little coming out of a 10-day Buffalo's 5-2 loss to Ottawa. Montreal? Yes. Do we need day, come to work and get
in the big picture for a Sa- break with home losses to "It was depressing. I just to take that? Yes. And it better."q

Crosby gets better of Ovechkin as

Penguins beat Capitals

By The Associated Press Alex Ovechkin. four points of the Metropol-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pat- Crosby assisted on Dominik itan Division-leading Capi-
ric Hornqvist scored the Simon's goal to give him tals with an extra game left
day after undergoing a 12 points in seven games to play.
dental procedure, Matt since returning from injury. Pittsburgh made life dif-
Murray made 29 saves and Ovechkin was held off the ficult on rookie Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37), of Rus- the Pittsburgh Penguins score sheet and remained goaltender Ilya Samsonov,
sia, tries to score while Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler beat the Washington Capi- at 37 goals this season and who allowed goals to Sam
Myers (57) and goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) defend dur-
ing the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., tals 4-3 Sunday in the 50th 695 for his career. Lafferty, Hornqvist, Simon
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. regular-season game be- By winning in regulation, and Brandon Tanev on 33
Associated Press tween Sidney Crosby and the Penguins crept within shots.q