Buffalo @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 7, 2019 ) Buffalo 4, Chicago 5

Jack Eichel took it upon himself to lift the proverbial monkey off his team’s back Saturday as the Sabres captain scored all four goals in a 4-2 victory over Ottawa that gave Buffalo a win for the first time in more than three weeks. The Sabres will look to build some momentum after snapping a six-game winless streak (0-5-1) when they visit a Chicago Blackhawks squad which is coming off a 7-2 drubbing of Nashville on Saturday.

It should come as no surprise that Eichel had his first career four-goal game against Ottawa as the fifth-year center has 23 points and a plus-12 rating against the Senators - both tops against any team. It's a different story against Chicago for the 23-year-old center, who has two goals in eight games against the Blackhawks with a minus-10 rating - his third-worst against any team. Chicago’s victory Saturday gave them a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games after going 1-4-2 in the seven prior. “I think we feel better with the way we’re playing,” forward Patrick Kane, who leads the Blackhawks with 25 points through 19 games, told reporters. “Obviously, we’re winning some games and picking up some points so that’s important. I still think there’s probably another level to our game that we can get to, really control the game and outplay the other team.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Buffalo, NBC Sports Chicago

ABOUT THE SABRES (10-6-3): Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo’s other first-overall draft pick, was benched for the third period Saturday as the 19-year-old has one goal through 19 games this year after potting nine as a rookie. “The pressure and the expectations and everything that comes with being Rasmus Dahlin is not easy,” Eichel told reporters. “Just the way he handles himself every day is incredible to see. You’re gonna go through tough times. Everything is not butterflies and everything is not always easy.” Johan Larsson missed his first game of the year with an upper body injury which paved the way for the NHL debut of 21-year-old Rasmus Asplund, who finished with two shots and two hits in 12:13 of ice time.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (8-7-4): Kane potted a goal and added an assist Saturday and has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) during an eight-game point streak. Left winger Alex DeBrincat added a helper on Kane’s third-period tally which gives the 21-year-old six assists in the last three games and at least one point in six of his last seven contests. Offseason acquisition Robin Lehner made 39 saves Saturday, improving to 5-3-2.

OVERTIME

1. Eichel became Buffalo’s first four-goal scorer since Thomas Vanek netted four against Ottawa on April 10, 2010.

2. Blackhawks D Connor Murphy played 19:35 in his return Saturday after missing the previous 11 games with a groin injury.

3. Chicago averaged six goals in winning both games against Buffalo last season.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 5, Sabres 3