The Buffalo Sabres announced late Tuesday morning that forward Jack Eichel would miss that evening’s game in Philadelphia against the Flyers with an upper-body injury.
Without the team's captain, Buffalo dropped its eighth-consecutive game Tuesday night, falling to the Flyers in a shootout, 5-4.
It was announced after the game that Eichel would miss more than just one contest due to the injury. By Tuesday night, Eichel was back in Buffalo, waiting to find out more details on the latest issue to keep him out of the lineup.
It's believed that Eichel suffered the injury in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders in Uniondale. After being awkwardly pushed into the boards, Eichel was in noticeable discomfort and held his neck while skating, and also once he got back to the Buffalo bench.
Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman tweeted Tuesday that Buffalo could be without its captain for a considerable period of time. Now, it's a matter of seeing if that “longer term” exceeds a week.
For the time being, the Sabres will have to try and stop the bleeding that is the team's current losing skid without No. 9.
Filling in at center for Eichel, rookie forward Dylan Cozens performed well Tuesday night against the Flyers, skating on a line with Taylor Hall and Sam Reinhart.
The Sabres return home to KeyBank Center for a matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. It'll be the first of eight meetings this season between the two clubs.
Opening faceoff between the Sabres and Penguins is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. Coverage on WGR will begin at 6 p.m. EST with the Paul William Beltz Pregame Show.