Jack Eichel Scores Twice To Lead Sabres To 4-3 Win Over Rangers

Jack Eichel scored twice in the third period to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 home victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday.

Jack Eichel Scores Twice To Lead Sabres To 4-3 Win Over Rangers

The 20-year-old center, a former Boston University player who won the Hobey Baker Award in 2015, played in his home debut with the Sabres Thursday.

Eichel gave Buffalo a 4-3 lead when he sent the puck out of the corner and it bounced off Mats Zuccarello and past Henrik Lundqvist (30 saves) with 5:32 remaining in the third period.

“It’s kind of hectic down there and [you] just try to find a soft spot and [Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh] makes a great play,” Eichel said. “I knew that Lundqvist got over, so I was trying to hit [Evander Kane] coming back through and luckily I got a nice bounce; kind of rewarding.”

Eichel’s first goal tied the game 3-3 and came on the power play just 1:43 before his game-winner. He took a pass from Kyle Okposo and raced up the right wing where he took a wrist shot that beat Lundqvist low to the far side.

The rookie had a goal and an assist when he returned to the lineup Tuesday in a 5-4 victory against the Ottawa Senators after he missed 21 games with a high ankle sprain.

“Did I anticipate a two-goal game type of bump? No,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said of Eichel. “It just kind of shows what kind of player he can be, what kind of player he is. He’s a dynamic player and he brings so much to our team in speed and attack. Everyone feeds off it … it has carried over to other players.”

The Sabres (9-9-5) have won two consecutive games. The Rangers (16-8-1), meanwhile, have lost two of their last three games.

Marc Staal’s second goal of the season gave New York a 3-2 lead with 8:18 remaining in the second period. Staal took a pass from Jesper Fast and fired a shot that beat Anders Nilsson (22 saves) over his shoulder.

Johan Larsson scored his fourth goal 18 seconds into the game to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.

McDonagh’s first of the season made it 1-1 with 3:45 left in the first.

Rick Nash gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead 8:15 into the second period with a power-play goal. Nash hit a rebound of a shot by Adam Clendening that was deflected by Jimmy Vesey through Nilsson’s legs for his 11th goal.

Sabres captain Brian Gionta tied it 2-2 at 9:48 of the second with his fifth goal. Gionta tapped a pass from behind the net from Marcus Foligno past Lundqvist. Foligno’s assist marked his 100th NHL point.

The Rangers next host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, while the Sabres will host the Boston Bruins that day.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 09: Jack Eichel #15 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on April 9, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Sabres defeated the Islanders 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)