Okposo, Eichel may return for Sabres vs. Blackhawks (Mar 16, 2018)
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Following yet another lackluster performance, the Buffalo Sabres may get two of their best offensive weapons back in the lineup heading into Saturday's matinee against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.
The two teams are set to square off at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Buffalo (22-36-12) is coming off a 5-2 loss to the rival Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night and has lost three of its last four games. But the Sabres may get some reinforcements back with winger Kyle Okposo and center Jack Eichel each nearing a return.
After suffering a serious concussion last season, Okposo suffered another concussion on March 8 following a collision with Ottawa's Bobby Ryan. This concussion has not been nearly as intrusive, however, according to Okposo -- who returned to practice on Friday and participated fully.
"That kind of runs through your mind, oh no, I hope that doesn't happen again, and here we go ... but it wasn't really like that," Okposo said, according to the team's website. "I didn't have many symptoms. Mood wasn't affected, sleep wasn't affected, so I saw the people that I needed to and feeling good and ready to get back at it."
Okposo is fourth on the team in scoring with 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists) in 38 games.
"This was a first really good step today in practice to see where he's at," Sabres coach Phil Housley said, according to the team's website. "I really like what he brought today, sharp and clean."
Eichel is nearing a return after missing several weeks with an ankle injury. Buffalo's top scorer skated once again with the team on Friday after returning to practices earlier in the week and is a possibility to return to the lineup against Chicago.
"We'll reevaluate that (Saturday), we'll see what the day brings," Housley said, according to the team's website. "It was another good practice, a lot of bumping and grinding. We'll see how his ankle responds to that."
Eichel's return would mark a significant boost for the Sabres, who have struggled to mount a consistent offensive attack all season long. Eichel leads the team in scoring with 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games despite having played 15 fewer games than some of his teammates.
Backup goalie Chad Johnson will get the start in Buffalo against Chicago. Johnson has a save percentage of .896 in 27 games played.
The Blackhawks (30-33-8) are in the midst of a surprising campaign that has seen more struggles than successes. Chicago had a winless streak of eight games in February and is coming off a 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. Chicago also had a 7-4 loss to the Boston Bruins last Saturday.
"Let's be tighter defensively," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said, according to the team's website. "Let's try to tighten that up."
Buffalo native Patrick Kane returns home, where he's had plenty of success against the Sabres. Kane has 15 career points (eight goals, seven assists) in his career against Buffalo. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews also has 15 career points against the Sabres.
