Morning Coffee: What does Eichel have in store for Buffalo return?

Jack Eichel returns to Buffalo tonight for the first time since the trade that sent him from the Sabres to the Vegas Golden Knights in November.

Eichel, who was drafted second overall by Buffalo in 2015, has three goals and seven points in his first 10 games with his new club.

What will he have in store for the Sabres?

Eichel to score versus Buffalo is currently +160. He’s +160 to register an assist and -140 to record at least a point against his former team.

Meanwhile, Vegas is one of eight teams separated by a total of nine points from fifth through 12th in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Golden Knights are still a top-four choice to win the Stanley Cup based on the betting odds, but they’ll certainly want to avoid a first-round matchup with the favourite to win it all in the Colorado Avalanche to improve their chances. 

Here’s the TSN EDGE Morning Coffee for Thursday, March 10, 2022.  

If the playoffs started today, Vegas would be the lower seed for a first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Kings.

While the Knights are a legitimate contender in the West, a deep postseason run would become that much more difficult if their potential path included each of the Kings, Calgary Flames and Avalanche.

Vegas is 4-5-1 with Eichel in the lineup. That includes a combined 0-2-1 against L.A. and Colorado.

Jack Eichel is on the ice, back in Buffalo pic.twitter.com/1V9eXJmuTh

While they have one of the most talented rosters in the league, the Golden Knights are still without Mark Stone, Alex Martinez and Mattias Janmark, among others, heading into tonight’s contest.

Coming off a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers and with the Western Conference playoff race heating up, Vegas should have a little added motivation in Buffalo