Sabres open week against NYR, Chicago – Have lost 6 of last 7

In a trend that has become all too familiar to Sabres fans the team has fallen flat on its face midway through the season. The team has lost 6 of their last 7 games – including two huge games against East rival Boston. And things don’t get easier from here. The team plays two perennial cup contenders in the next 2 games and dropping these two could more or less the team’s season in January.

It’s no secret the team needs a spark and that needs to come from Jack. Since coming back in late November he has 12 points in 15 games. In the same breath with Eichel you can throw in Evander Kane who has been on fire recently as well. In every game you watch Kane jumps out on the screen as an explosive forward who can in disrupt all 5 players on the opposing team in one shift and score to finish it off. He has cemented his place on this team in scoring 12 points in the last 16 games and I’m glad the muttering of him being a possible trade candidate have died out.

With Ryan O'Reilly out for the foreseeable future after he had an appendectomy the team needs to fill his production through a committee. Reinhart, Okposo and Foligno are more than capable of stepping up and scoring when the opportunity presents itself. What they need to do is create opportunities on their own now that ROR is out. ROR is one of the best passers in the league and without him in the lineup shots need to increase.

Young guns:

Justin Bailey got the call up with Johan Larsson breaking his wrist in a collision with the boards in Boston. Bailey is an explosive and talented forward who has 20+ points with the Amerks already this year. Look for him to make the most of his second stint with the Sabres this year and score his first career goal.