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Archives for March 16, 2019

Heading into Buffalo return, life of O’Reilly has gotten much better in St. Louis

‘”I’ve been able to create a lot more at 5-on-5,” he said. “The last few years, especially in Buffalo, I started relying too much on the power play to contribute offensively. Now I’m finding more ways to be a little bit more offensive-minded, read the plays better and create more. That’s really where the plus-minus is coming from.”‘

O’Reilly to make emotional return to Buffalo

‘Buffalo traded O’Reilly to the Blues on July 1 in a trade that has come to look exceptionally lopsided in the Blues’ favor. The Blues sent Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, Tage Thompson and two draft picks to the Sabres for O’Reilly. Berglund was so unhappy in Buffalo that he walked away from his contract and returned to Sweden. Sobotka and Thompson have combined for 12 goals and 12 assists in 124 total games. Those two draft picks — a first-rounder this season (unless it somehow falls into the top 10) and a second-rounder in 2021 — had better come through big for Buffalo. O’Reilly, meanwhile, has been the star player for the Blues.’

Unbelievable scoring drought highlights Sabres’ shortcomings in yet another lost season

‘But the reality is that Housley, for whatever faults he may have, has done some good this season. The Sabres are a middle of the road team when it comes to most possession metrics. Buffalo has shown continued improvement in those areas under Housley, and that’s one of the few positives the Sabres have seen this season. So, while he may not be the answer, it would seem he’s not exactly the problem, either.’

Sabres’ Eichel is done with his two-game suspension

‘The Sabres are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but the players are realistic to know where they stand. Eichel said they still need to go out and play the best they can until the season is over, “We just compete every game because we’re competitors. I think everyone has something to play for here and the season’s not over and this is about pride, this is about playing for the logo, playing for the guy next to you, I think that’s what’s most important.”’

With suspension behind him, Eichel set to return in Carolina

‘”I think whenever you miss a game – hurt, suspended, whatever it is – I think it’s tough to sit in the press box, for sure,” he said. “You want to be out there competing as much as you can so, yeah, it stinks not playing. It’s good that it’s over and you just move past it.”‘