Eichel Also Gets Two

In a case, which was far more clear and to the letter of the law than the suspension down below, Jack Eichel was suspended two games for his illegal check to the head of Carl Soderberg in the game between the Sabres and the Avalanche on Saturday night.  This was a textbook case of a pick to the head and what has quickly become the standard from the Department of Player Safety, it's a 2-game suspension for a player without a previous history.

The Sabres are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and their playoff hopes have all but dwindled away at this point, as they sat 10 points out of a playoff spot, now with 14 games remaining and they'd have to pass through three teams to get there.  Whatever last gasp the Sabres may have had will be short on breath with their captain out of the lineup.

According to the schedule, Eichel will miss Tuesday night's game at home against Dallas and Thursday night at home to Pittsburgh, eligible to return on Saturday, when the team travels to Carolina to take on the Hurricanes.

With play already underway on Sunday night, Eichel has been hovering around the top 25 of pool scoring, dropping ever so slightly already tonight to 27th, with 25 goals and 72 points in 65 games this season, having a very good year with the club.  Without that offense for two key games, including a game against a team they're chasing versus Pittsburgh, the hopes may be extinguished.

Grant's situation is only mildly troublesome, as his team, at the time of this post, with play already midway through the schedule on Sunday night, his team sits in 3rd place, 8 points clear of 4th.  Staying in the money may not be in jeopardy in the coming week, his team has been strong beyond Eichel, but chasing down 2nd place, where his team stands 9 points back, may be an uphill battle.  Still lots of hockey to be played though.