Sharpen Up: March 21, 2018

Jack Eichel is set to play in his 200th NHL game tonight as the Sabres get set to take on the Arizona Coyotes. It's a 7 p.m. faceoff from KeyBank Center.
If you can't make it to the arena, tune in to the GMC Game Night pregame show at 6:30 p.m. on MSG. Dan and Rayzor have the call on MSG and WGR 550.
Here's what you need to know.

Tuesday's practice

From the Ice Level Practice Report...
While they waited for an optional practice to begin at KeyBank Center on Tuesday morning, the trio of Justin Bailey, Evan Rodrigues and Nick Baptiste warmed up on the same end of the ice. The three forwards laughed and joked with one another as they took shots on an open net.
The three players have spent quite a bit of time with one another as of late. Before games they can be found sitting together on the home bench, looking out onto the ice. Their stalls in the Buffalo Sabres dressing room are situated next to each other: Bailey on the left, Rodrigues in the middle and Baptiste on the right.
Coincidentally, that same arrangement has clicked on the ice for the Sabres over the past two games. Phil Housley put Bailey, Rodrigues and Baptiste on a line together in the third period of the team's win over Chicago on Saturday, and the trio used their speed on the forecheck to combine for the game-tying goal:

"We're having fun," Baptiste said. "We're all pretty young guys that are just having fun out there, enjoying our time with each other."
"I think we're pushing the pace," Bailey said. "We're trying to play fast, we're trying to play the way we need to play to be successful. We're getting on top of guys in their end and keeping guys in their D-zone longer than they want to so that when they come out, they don't have too much energy left to play offense."
All three players said that sharing the ice gave them a confidence boost.
"I think it makes you hold onto your stick a little bit looser when you're playing with guys you've played with a few years," Rodrigues said. "You trust them, and you're not worried to make a mistake. We have each other's back. I think it also gives you a little bit of a boost, it's a little bit of fun and it puts a bit of extra giddy-up in your step."

More on Eichel

From the Game Notes…
- Of Jack Eichel's 54 points so far this season, 24 have been goals or primary assists recorded during 5-on-5 play (excludes 6-on-5 situations). - Through 57 games played, Eichel's 24 primary points (13+11) during 5-on-5 play have already surpassed his 61-game total from last season (11+10) and tied his career-best total from his 81-game rookie season (12+12). - \All primary point stats via NaturalStatTrick.com*

Tonight's matchup

More from the Game Notes...
- Sam Reinhart has totaled 29 points (12+17) in his last 28 games. - Rasmus Ristolainen has 26 points (6+20) in his last 35 games dating back to Dec. 29. Ristolainen's 26 points during that span tied for 11th among NHL defensemen.