Buffalo Sabres: Emotional affair awaits in upcoming matchup

Feb 1, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) shoots the puck under the stick of Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mark Pysyk (13) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) shoots the puck under the stick of Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mark Pysyk (13) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres will face Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights as their homestand continues on March 10th. 

It’s going to be an emotional night for the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday when they face off with Jack Eichel’s Vegas Golden Knights. Despite allowing playoff-bound opponents to outscore them 9-1 over the past two games, the Sabres emotions will make this one a competitive matchup.

The franchise’s relationship with Eichel soured to the point the former star center wanted out of Buffalo. General manager Kevyn Adams conceded to Eichel’s wishes and shipped him to the Golden Knights for draft picks, winger Alex Tuch, and center/winger Peyton Krebs.

Tuch, Krebs, looking to showcase talents for the Buffalo Sabres

While the KeyBank Center will run high with emotions given Eichel’s return, expect Tuch and Krebs to bring their A-game. Krebs, a former first-round pick by the Golden Knights at 17th overall in 2019, never received a fair chance in Vegas.

And the Knights were so impressed with Krebs, who bounced back and fourth between their lower lines and the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights that they gave up on him after two seasons. Now, Krebs looks like he made a name for himself as a member of the Sabres. Per The Morning Puck, the Sabres project Krebs to start at right-wing on the Okposo line tomorrow night.

Tuch will get the nod on the Thompson line, where he carved out a key role with the club since debuting on December 29th. For one wild moment, it looked as though Tuch would miss extended time after he collided with the goal post during Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Kings. However, he returned to the lineup the next evening after undergoing tests.

Given the way the Sabres relationship ended with Eichel, expect more than just Tuch and Krebs to give their all. Especially after another former Sabre forward Sam Reinhart returned and helped embarrass the team on its home ice in a 6-1 rout Monday night.

Despite their poor record, this is a proud Sabres group that at times, have proven they’re better than they’ve played so far this season. Before the losses to Los Angeles and the Florida Panthers, the Sabres embarked on a 10-goal run in two games.

With emotions running so high, perhaps they have another high-scoring night up their sleeves against the Knights. The two teams face-off at 7:00 EST.