Sabres have relied on scoring depth in Eichel's absence

Jack Eichel was on an offensive tear before he sustained a high-ankle sprain during the first period of Buffalo's game against the Bruins on Feb. 9. With the team's leading scorer out of the lineup indefinitely, it was easy to wonder where the goals and assists would come from. As it turns out, the production has come from just about everywhere.
Including that game against Boston, Buffalo has scored 15 goals in four games without Eichel, and it's not just the big names who have been contributing. Ten of 13 forwards have recorded a point, as well as five of seven defensemen who have dressed.

Ryan O'Reilly, nicknamed Factor by his teammates, has received a lot of the attention with a pair of three-point efforts in those four games, as well as for his success in the faceoff circle. And Sam Reinhart (2+1) and Kyle Okposo (0+3) have also been productive.
"I think the guys have done a terrific job rallying around it," coach Phil Housley said after Friday's practice at KeyBank Center. "Obviously when you miss your best player, it's tough to fill that void. But our guys have done a really good job. It's been leadership by committee. It's been production by committee. And we need more of it. But it does give you a good chance to evaluate your players."
It's the depth of the Sabres forward group that has really helped them to a 2-1-1 record since losing their leading scorer. Seven forwards have recorded at least two points over that stretch.

"It's huge. Ever since Jack went out, we've been getting some scoring from pretty much everybody," Okposo said. "Factor's really elevated his game. And Sam's been really good, too. But we've been getting contributions from everybody which is really nice to see."
Scott Wilson (3+1) and Evan Rodrigues (1+2) have been among those players that have stepped up in those four games. Both scored in last night's overtime loss to Ottawa.

Wilson, who was acquired by the team in December in a trade with Detroit, said he's settling in with his new club. Last season with the Penguins, the 25-year-old forward recorded a career-high 26 points in 78 games and posted six points in 20 playoffs games en route to a Stanley Cup championship.
"Playing in Pittsburgh for a few years, I learned that you have to play the right way to win," he said. "Show by example. I'm not really a big talker or anything so just playing the game the right way, doing the right things, little things like blocking shots, getting pucks out of the D-zone when you can. I've just taken pride in that."
He's been skating on a line with center Johan Larsson and Jason Pominville. Housley lauded the line's consistency as of late.
"They were pretty tenacious. They've been playing really well together. They have good chemistry," he said. "Wilson does a lot of the little things well. Blocking shots, taking hits to making plays, drives to the net, has a shot mentality. That mix right there has been really good for us."

Rodrigues, who was the benefactor of a great play by Okposo to set up the go-ahead goal late in last night's game, has five points in his last five games. He's also seen some time on the first power-play unit with Okposo, O'Reilly, Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen in Eichel's absence.
The Sabres have tallied at least one power-play goal in 12 of their last 17 games dating back to Jan. 7 at Philadelphia (and went 0-for-0 on Jan. 11 vs. Columbus), scoring 16 power-play goals over that stretch.
"The power play's been clicking for about a month and a half. Guys like Okposo and Reinhart and Factor - when they power play's going well, it gives them confidence in all areas of their game," Rodrigues said. "I think it's really upped our team and hopefully we can keep it going."
Buffalo hosts the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow afternoon at KeyBank Center for a 1 p.m. faceoff. It's a Kids Day Game with a special ticket offer available here.

Friday's line combos and D pairings

9 Evander Kane - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 23 Sam Reinhart
67 Benoit Pouliot - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 21 Kyle Okposo
20 Scott Wilson - 22 Johan Larsson - 29 Jason Pominville
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 10 Jacob Josefson - 17 Jordan Nolan
13 Nicholas Baptiste
82 Nathan Beaulieu - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
6 Marco Scandella - 8 Casey Nelson
41 Justin Falk - 93 Victor Antipin
4 Josh Gorges
40 Robin Lehner
31 Chad Johnson