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 Eichel had a goal and an assist in the Sabres' 2-1 victory at Gila
River Arena, their fourth win in the past five games.
"He's such a dynamic young player, one that's going to be effective
for a long time and grow for us and for the Buffalo Sabres," coach
Dan Bylsma said. "It's pretty exciting."
The Coyotes had the second-worst record in the NHL last season and
because of that a 13.5 percent chance in the lottery. Buffalo, which
had the worst record, had a 20 percent chance. But when the Edmonton
Oilers (11.5 percent) won the lottery, the others dropped a notch,
and the Sabres selected Eichel at No. 2.
"Obviously, there was the opportunity (to end up in Arizona),"
Eichel said. "I could have gone to a lot of teams. Through that
whole process, I went in with an open mind. I ended up here, and I
couldn't be happier. It's a great group of guys in the room."
Eichel and right winger Jamie McGinn scored power-play goals in the
second period, and goaltender Chad Johnson made 26 saves for his
second victory in three days.
Coyotes center Antoine Vermette scored his seventh goal of the
season when he drove a shot through Johnson's pads to break up the
shutout at 8:04 of the third period.
Vermette's goal was the Coyotes' first in 63 minutes and 22 seconds,
since right winger Shane Doan's goal late in the second period of a
3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. The New
Jersey Devils shut out the Coyotes 2-0 Saturday.
Eichel has 14 goals, tied for second among NHL rookies with Detroit
center Dylan Larkin. McGinn has 10 goals.
"Jack needs to skate and use his speed to be effective, and I
thought he was tonight," Bylsma said.
Arizona goaltender Louis Domingue had 26 saves but lost in
regulation for the first time in 11 starts this season since winning
the No. 1 job following an injury to Mike Smith. Domingue is 7-1-3
since making his first start Dec. 19.
The Coyotes (22-18-5) lost their third straight, one in overtime, in
the fifth game of a seven-game homestand. They were 0-for-5 on the
power play for the second consecutive game.
"We are a little bit off in our shooting," Arizona coach Dave
Tippett said. "You're going to go through cycles like that, and you
work through them."
Eichel drove a one-timer past Domingue in a five-on-three power play
at 10:07 of the second period. McGinn gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead at
17:35 of the second period when his shot from the right of the
crease caromed in off Coyotes defenseman Michael Stone.
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Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen assisted on both goals.
The teams scuffled just after the game ended, with 61 minutes in
penalties called. Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian received 17
minutes in penalties, including a game misconduct, after starting a
fight with Coyotes right winger Anthony Duclair, who got two minutes
for roughing.
Ristolainen and Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson got into a
fight and each received 10-minute misconduct penalties. Doan and
Vermette also got 10-minute misconduct penalties.
"A little bit of old-school hockey," Bylsma said. "Guys coming
together, sticking together. It was good to see."
NOTES: Arizona D Zbynek Michalek was struck in the face by a puck
that ricocheted off a stick, and he left a pool of blood on the ice
before being helped off with 17:50 remaining in the first period. He
returned about 10 minutes later. ... The Coyotes played parts of
Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech on the video
board before game. Fans reacted with applause. ... Buffalo C David
Legwand played in his 1,100th game, the 15th active player to reach
that milestone. ... Sabres linemates C Ryan O'Reilly (21 minutes, 54
seconds) and LW Evander Kane (21:01) rank first and third among NHL
forwards in ice time this season. ... Coyotes RW Steve Downie was
assigned to AHL Springfield on Monday after clearing waivers.
Downie, who has three goals and six points in 25 games, signed a
one-year, $1.75 million contract last summer. ... Arizona D Jarred
Tinordi and D Klas Dahlback were healthy scratches Monday. The
Coyotes have eight defensemen after trades that landed Tinordi and
Kevin Connauton late last week.
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