"It's tough news, obviously," Sabres captain Brian Gionta said. "But at the end of the day, it's a good thing that he found it early on and it's nothing too severe … He's a big piece of this team, there's no doubt about that. But like we've said all along, guys have to step up and take that opportunity and fill that void. It has been tough here, but by no means are we going to sit and make excuses about that."
The Sabres called upon Sam Reinhart to move from the wing to center when Eichel and O'Reilly were sidelined earlier this season, and they'll do so again tonight in Detroit. Reinhart will center a line with Zemgus Girgensons and Kyle Okposo while Eichel will skate between Marcus Foligno and Matt Moulson.
One of Reinhart's appearances at center this season came when the Sabres hosted the Red Wings on Nov. 23, a 2-1 shootout win for Detroit.
"That was a game we generated quite a number of scoring chances both on the rush and in the offensive zone," Bylsma recalled. "I think Sam's going to be asked to be a part of us coming back here and generating offense, playing offense."
"I mean, throughout the year I'm going to play center at some points," Reinhart said. "I think it helps my game and it's proven in the past so hopefully I can keep moving my feet and feel better playing in the middle."
Still, earning a win for the first time in five games will take more from the Sabres than any one individual effort. In losses to Carolina and New York on Thursday and Friday, the Sabres felt they had gotten away from the simple, forechecking game that had allowed them to earn points in eight of the 10 games prior. They also struggled to move the puck through the neutral zone in those two losses, which led to a handful of odd-man rushes against.
"The last two games in particular, I think we've given up odd-man situations against that have given great opportunities," Bylsma said. "I think the Carolina game and the Islander game are similar in that regard. Some of that's been our attention to the defensive side of the puck and really been more so we've given up opportunities because of how we play with the puck."
The Sabres had emphasized the importance of those games against the Hurricanes and the Islanders because of their proximity to both of those teams in the wild card standings. They now have another crucial stretch, this time against Atlantic Division opponents, which begins against the Red Wings. Having played one more game than Buffalo, Detroit sits two points ahead.
After the game against Detroit, the Sabres will play a home-and-home set with the Boston Bruins, who sit eight points ahead for third place in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo still has three games in hand on Boston.
"It's huge," Gionta said of the upcoming schedule. "That's how last week was as well and that's what made it even more disappointing. We have to take advantage of this week here leading up to the New Year, take that segment and hopefully get all three games."
Robin Lehner will start in net tonight and will be opposed by Petr Mrazek for the Red Wings.
Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. with the TOPS Pregame Show on MSG-B, or you can listen live on WGR 550. Puck drop between the Sabres and Red Wings will be later than the scheduled 7:30 start time because of a pregame ceremony honoring the '97 Stanley Cup-champion Red Wings.
