Atlantic Notes: Eichel, Howard

The Sabres’ struggles, and the mounting frustration with it have been well chronicled. The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington writes about a new irritation for Buffalo–this one about star Jack Eichel who is frustrated for their Sabres netminder Robin Lehner. Despite all of the losing, Eichel is growing into a leadership role and pointed to himself after a 3-2 overtime loss to Chicago Friday night. Gifted a chance to put away the Hawks with a penalty shot in overtime, an exhausted Eichel couldn’t convert and the Hawks put the Sabres away minutes later. Lehner played outstanding, stopping 48 of 51 shots, and Eichel knew this. The emotional winger spoke of his fatigue with losing and specifically with how they’re losing. The pain in his voice, Harrington reports, was so great that Lehner had to compose himself during his own interview with the assembled media. Though they’re at the bottom of the Atlantic and the East, no one can accuse the team of not caring.

• The Red Wings are right back to their losing ways and a 6-1 beating from St. Louis this afternoon was a result of poor goaltending writes the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James. Jimmy Howard surrendered four goals on eight shots, and was benched in favor of Petr Mrazek in the third period. The performance was bad enough that Howard received a Bronx cheer after stopping a long shot late in the second. Though Howard shrugged it off, the Red Wings netminder wasn’t sharp on a couple of the four goals. Though St. James exonerates the defense, it certainly had its moments, showing again that the Red Wings are far from any type of playoff hunt. Time is running out in Hockeytown, and barring a turnaround, the Wings would benefit most from lining up their best assets and selling at the trade deadline.