Eakin practices, not expected to play against Kings

Cody Eakin continued to practice in a yellow non-contact jersey when the Sabres took the ice at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California on Friday.
Sabres coach Don Granato said he expects Eakin to miss at least one more game. The Sabres continue their four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
"I don't think Sunday's an option for him," Granato told the media. "… It's still a little process. I don't expect Sunday. Possible for Tuesday (against San Jose)."

Eakin has missed four contests since sustaining an upper-body injury during a practice at KeyBank Center on Oct. 21. He tallied two points (1+1) during the first three games of the season, centering a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo.

Ruotsalainen joins the party

Arttu Ruotsalainen crashed the Anaheim net and redirected a shot from Anders Bjork for his first goal of the season on Thursday. He finished the game having skated a season-high 15:25.
Granato said he hopes the goal serves as a launch pad for Ruotsalainen, who scored five times in 17 games as a rookie last season.
"He is a guy that can score, we know that," Granato said. "Scorers, it's always the adrenaline, the feel, the surge you get from scoring is always big so that would be the hope. He works hard. He plays hard, he practices hard, he earns everything. We certainly hope for him that it bumps him up even more now."

Ruotsalainen became the 13th Sabres player to score a goal this season. Only four teams (Anaheim, Florida, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh) have more.

Up next

The Sabres practice again in El Segundo on Saturday in preparation for their matchup with the Kings.
Coverage on Sunday begins at 3:30 p.m. on MSG. The puck drops at 4.