In the midst of scoring rut, Reinhart earns chance alongside Eichel

Well after practice ended at KeyBank Center on Wednesday morning, Sam Reinhart and Ryan O'Reilly were the last two members of the Buffalo Sabres to leave the ice and enter the dressing room. That much is no surprise; the two have been participating in post-practice drills together dating back to Reinhart's rookie season.
But while Reinhart has continued to work as hard as anyone, it hasn't translated into production as of late. The third-year forward has tallied just one point, an assist, in his last 12 games. He admitted Wednesday that it's been the most difficult stretch of his young career.
"It's not easy," Reinhart said. "I'm showing up and working as hard as I can every day, and that's all I can do right now."

If Wednesday's practice is any indication, Reinhart will have a chance to make an impact on the scoresheet when the Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night. After skating just 11:05 against Boston on Tuesday night, he practiced on the top line with Evander Kane and Jack Eichel.
Other changes to the lines on Wednesday included Scott Wilson, a healthy scratch on Tuesday, skating with Evan Rodrigues at center and Johan Larsson on the wing. Jason Pominville skated on a line with Benoit Pouliot and Jacob Josefson, while Jordan Nolan served as the extra forward.
"When you're not winning, like I said, we're going to mix things up, change our lines, try to find a winning formula," Sabres coach Phil Housley said. "Just with Sam, there's a different expectation for him. He's proven that he can provide points and production offensively. He's getting an opportunity."
From a production standpoint, Reinhart performed at a rather consistent pace during his first two full seasons. He scored 42 points (23+19) in 79 games as a rookie in 2015-16, and 47 points (17+30) in an equal number of games as a sophomore last season.
He's scored 11 points (5+6) in 34 games this season, putting him well shy of that 40-point pace. While some staples of his game have been present - namely, his tendency to go to the net front and his ability to win battles and move the puck from behind the net - Housley said following Tuesday's game that he needs to see Reinhart play with more speed on a consistent basis.
Reinhart only skated three shifts in the third period in that game.

"He's got to consider it more of a challenge," Housley said. "… In Sam's case, he's trying to find his game. I've really liked the last couple games, he's brought his speed and his work ethic, his compete, and that's why he's getting that opportunity. I don't think you can focus on what has happened in the past. I think you can learn from it and move forward and try to get better from it."
With his eyes set on working his way out of the rut, Reinhart believes he's up to the task.
"I've been here long enough to know where I'm at what I need to do to prepare myself both physically and mentally," he said. "I think I'm doing that on a daily basis."

Josefson OK after big hit

It was natural to assume the worst after Jacob Josefson was leveled by a hit from Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller on Tuesday. Josefson was less than a period into his return from his second ankle-related absence of the season when the hit occurred.
Housley said that Josefson was indeed held off the ice for a few shifts to ensure the ankle was OK, but the forward was able to finish the game with 11:06 of ice time.
"I think he just tweaked his lower body injury," Housley said. "We were just making sure he was able to come back, which he did, and had a pretty strong game for us."

Lines at practice

9 Evander Kane - 15 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 21 Kyle Okposo
67 Benoit Pouliot - 10 Jacob Josefson - 29 Jason Pominville
22 Johan Larsson - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 20 Scott Wilson
17 Jordan Nolan
6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
19 Jake McCabe - 47 Zach Bogosian
82 Nathan Beaulieu - 41 Justin Falk
4 Josh Gorges - 93 Victor Antipin
40 Robin Lehner
31 Chad Johnson