Eichel pots two as Sabres beat Stars
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Jack Eichel scored twice to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Monday afternoon.
Tyler Ennis and Jake McCabe also scored for the Sabres (17-17-9), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Robin Lehner made 31 saves.
Radek Faska scored for the Stars (18-19-8). Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves.
Playing in his first game since Nov. 7, Ennis made an immediate impact in his return from groin surgery by scoring just 19 seconds into the game. The speedy forward took advantage of a Stars giveaway and placed a shot into the top corner of the net for his second goal of the year.
McCabe doubled Buffalo's lead with 7:26 remaining in the first off another Stars giveaway. Stars captain Jamie Benn's poor clearance found a wide open McCabe in the middle of the slot, and McCabe's hard shot gave him his first goal of the year.
Faska put Dallas on the board with 4:46 remaining in the first. Following a turnover by Sabres winger Kyle Okposo near the blue line, Faska went to the net and deflected Jiri Hudler's shot to make it 2-1.
The Stars appeared to even the score 1:38 into the second period but Stephen Johns' goal was disallowed after right winger Patrick Eaves was determined to be offside following a coach's challenge by the Sabres.
Eichel made it a two-goal lead 7:07 into the second with a power-play goal. After the Stars were given a penalty for too many men, Sabres center Sam Reinhart had two quick chances from close range. Reinhart then got the puck to Eichel on his left, and Eichel had an easy tap-in for his ninth goal of the year. Reinhart picked up his 13th point in his last 13 games.
Eichel added an empty-net goal with 9.3 seconds remaining.
NOTES: D Josh Gorges and LW Nicolas Deslauriers were scratched for the Sabres. Gorges has been dealing with a hip injury and missed his fifth game in a row. ... LW Curtis McKenzie, Patrik Nemeth and RW Adam Cracknell were scratched for the Stars. ... Earlier Monday, the Sabres recalled C Cal O'Reilly from the AHL's Rochester Americans. The brother of Sabres C Ryan O'Reilly, Cal O'Reilly is on his second recall of the season and is tied for second in the AHL in assists with 26 (eight goals, 26 assists). ... This was the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Their second and final meeting takes place on Jan. 26 in Buffalo.