Sabres’ Eichel rips team after latest loss: ‘We think we can take shifts off’

On Thursday night, the Buffalo Sabres lost for the fifth time in their last six games.

The game appears to have been extra frustrating for forward Jack Eichel, who sounded off on his team after they squandered a 2-0 lead against the Detroit Red Wings, ultimately losing 6-3.

"We think we can take shifts off. We think we can take plays off. We don't think every play matters, and it does," Eichel said, according to John Vogl of Buffalo News. "It all adds up at the end of the game. We continue to make similar mistakes and sleep through shifts, sleep through periods, and all of a sudden it's 6-3. It's frustrating."

As for Eichel, he set a career high Thursday with his 25th goal of the year and tied his career best with his 57th point.

The Sabres' season has been lost for some time, however; they currently sit with a five-point cushion over last place in the league standings.

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5 under-the-radar trade-deadline moves that have panned out

At every NHL trade deadline, a number of highly sought-after players generate a ton of buzz.

Fans become enthralled with what a big-name addition could mean for their team's Stanley Cup aspirations, experts become entwined in seemingly endless debates, and general managers endure sleepless nights spent waiting by the phone for that big deal to break.

However, some trades come together with much less attention, involving names that aren't exactly destined for the rafters. But those players still hold the ability to make names for themselves, impacting the outcome of their new team's seasons.

With that in mind, here's a look at the under-the-radar deals from the 2018 deadline that have panned out.

Ian Cole, Columbus Blue Jackets

Never one to exactly jump off the stat sheet, Cole has been nothing short of sensational for the Blue Jackets since joining the club from the Ottawa Senators as an extra piece in the Derick Brassard deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and has been a major reason for the team's late-season resurgence.

Prior to joining Columbus, Cole was having a respectable season, but he's totally taken his game to the next level in his 16 games for John Tortorella and Co. Check out his numbers in Pittsburgh compared to his short time with Columbus:

Team GP Points CF% +/- TOI S%
Penguins 47 13 50.6 +3 17:37 4.8
Blue Jackets 16 7 52.64 +12 18:04 13.3

In only 16 games, Cole has already clearly earned the trust of the ever-menacing Tortorella, as the veteran rearguard's pairing with David Savard has been deployed more than any other Blue Jackets defensive combo over the last 10 contests, providing an element of stability to a back end already stacked with the likes of Seth Jones and Zach Werenski.

Cole won't be winning any Norris Trophies anytime soon, but as an under-the-radar addition, he could be worth his weight in gold for a Blue Jackets squad honing in on one of the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots.

J.T. Miller, Tampa Bay Lightning

While Ryan McDonagh's name dominated the airwaves immediately following the Lightning-Rangers blockbuster deal, it's been Miller who's been turning heads in the Sunshine State over the last few weeks.

Basically an add-on in the major five-player trade, Miller has already had a major impact in Tampa, registering eight goals and six assists in 14 games while playing on the Lightning's top line with Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos.

Miller's taken on an increased role since his move to Tampa, playing on the No. 1 power-play unit and averaging 18:25 of ice time per night - nearly two minutes more than with the Rangers. Not to mention, he's solid on the faceoff dot, winning 52.3 percent of his draws over the past 14 games.

There is no denying McDonagh was the key piece in the deal, and he's also performed strongly since returning from injury. But the lack of attention paid to Miller's acquisition and his stellar play make him a lock for a list of this nature.

Ryan Spooner, New York Rangers

Another player involved in a blockbuster move as a periphery piece, Spooner was included in New York's mega-deal with the Boston Bruins to acquire highly prized winger Rick Nash - but since then he's been making some Bruins fans wish that maybe he hadn't.

Not only does Spooner possess the versatility to play both up the middle and on the wing, but the speedy 5-foot-10 playmaker is adept at creating chances for teammates. Something he's already proven in 15 games with the Blue Shirts, racking up 12 assists along with three goals.

Obviously overlooked due to the bigger pieces in the Nash trade, Boston's 2010 second-round pick is already proving to be a player the Rangers will want to keep in the mix for the foreseeable future.

Thomas Vanek, Columbus Blue Jackets

Seemingly traded almost every February, Vanek has been written off more than a few times over the past number of seasons due to his decline in foot speed and production. And because of that, his move to the Blue Jackets flew mostly under the radar.

However, since that move, Vanek has arguably been Columbus' best forward not named Artemi Panarin. Take in his stats since joining the Jackets on deadline day:

Games Goals Assists +/- CF% S%
15 7 7 +13 51.54 18.4

Vanek's found chemistry on a line with Boone Jenner and Alexander Wennberg, a trio on which John Tortorella has been relying more than any other over the past 10 games.

Despite few expecting the move to pan out, Vanek is averaging just under a point per game with the Blue Jackets, making his acquisition a surprise success thus far.

Brendan Leipsic, Vancouver Canucks

We won't blame you if you didn't realize Leipsic was even playing in the NHL, let alone doing well on a new team following a deadline deal. But that doesn't change the fact that prior to getting injured, he was finally hitting his stride after years of point-per-game production at the AHL level.

Leipsic missed the last four contests with a upper-body injury, but before that, he was on a very nice tear for the Canucks while playing much heavier minutes - Leipsic averaged only 11:56 with the Golden Knights and 17:23 with Vancouver.

Two goals, seven assists, and a positive Corsi For percentage of 51.3 in 11 games should have Vancouver interested in involving Leipsic in future plans, regardless of how under the radar his acquisition was.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Playoff percentages: Panthers failing to capitalize on games in hand

Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff races, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.

Eastern Conference

Sitting three points back of New Jersey with a game in hand, it's possible the Florida Panthers could leapfrog the Devils for the final position in the East.

But it's not about to get any easier after the Florida club squandered three points in three contests this month against the Ottawa Senators, the league's third-worst club.

That could come back to bite the Panthers, who will close out their final six games against some tougher opponents, including the Nashville Predators and three matches with the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins.

Team Result Playoff Chances Change
Blue Jackets 5-1 W vs. CGY 98.8% +4.1%
Penguins 4-2 W (OT) vs. NJD 99.9% +1.0%
Flyers Off 96.0% +0.5%
Devils 4-3 L (OT) vs. PIT 75.5% +0.5%
Panthers 3-2 L (OT) vs. OTT 29.9% -6.1%

Western Conference

Out west, a win over the Arizona Coyotes saw the Los Angeles Kings jump to third in the Pacific Division, dropping the Anaheim Ducks to the second wild-card position.

Meanwhile, a loss to the Minnesota Wild has all but eradicated playoff hopes for the Dallas Stars.

Team Result Playoff Chances Change
Kings 4-2 W vs. ARI 92.3% +4.4%
Wild 5-2 W vs. DAL 99.6% +1.2%
Blues Off 87.1% -1.0%
Ducks Off 73.8% -0.9%
Stars 5-2 L vs. MIN 0.1% -1.1%
Avalanche Off 47.2% -2.5%

To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.

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Senators’ Karlsson on returning to hockey after son’s death: ‘It’s been hard’

Erik Karlsson and the Ottawa Senators have been playing with heavy hearts following the loss of the captain's unborn son on March 19.

Karlsson opened up about the devastating tragedy, saying things haven't been easy, but he appreciates all the support he's received.

"I'm doing okay," Karlsson told the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch following Thursday's overtime win over the Florida Panthers. "It's been an extremely tough time and a situation I never expected to be in.

"I just want to thank my teammates, this organization, this community, people around the league and people we don't even know for giving us their support and our time to be ourselves and grieve. Looking back it meant a lot to us for all the people that reached out - people that we know and people that we don't know. It helped us get through this a little bit."

Karlsson doesn't anticipate things getting any easier, but he and his wife Melinda Currey have remained strong.

"It's going to take us a very long time to get back to normal, but we're going to do everything we can to stay as positive as possible," he said. "I think my wife has handled the situation better than I could have ever imagined and it's not something that you can prepare yourself for."

Thursday's win was Karlsson's third contest since his son's death, but claims it's been hard to get himself up for games, even though it's helped take his mind off things.

"It's been hard ... It's been hard to kind of get the motivation," he said. "At the same time, it's been kind of a comfort zone to get back into routine and think about something else for awhile.

"At the end of the day, these guys mean a lot to me and when we go through something like this everybody gets together and they really embraced me and given me everything that I need in this time. For me to just get back to normal and see everybody else behave normal has helped me a lot."

Karlsson's status for the team's final road trip remains unclear, but he's hoping he "can play the remainder of the season out."

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Senators’ Karlsson on returning to hockey after son’s death: ‘It’s been hard’

Erik Karlsson and the Ottawa Senators have been playing with heavy hearts following the loss of the captain's unborn son on March 19.

Karlsson opened up about the devastating tragedy, saying things haven't been easy, but he appreciates all the support he's received.

"I'm doing okay," Karlsson told the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch following Thursday's overtime win over the Florida Panthers. "It's been an extremely tough time and a situation I never expected to be in.

"I just want to thank my teammates, this organization, this community, people around the league and people we don't even know for giving us their support and our time to be ourselves and grieve. Looking back it meant a lot to us for all the people that reached out - people that we know and people that we don't know. It helped us get through this a little bit."

Karlsson doesn't anticipate things getting any easier, but he and his wife Melinda Currey have remained strong.

"It's going to take us a very long time to get back to normal, but we're going to do everything we can to stay as positive as possible," he said. "I think my wife has handled the situation better than I could have ever imagined and it's not something that you can prepare yourself for."

Thursday's win was Karlsson's third contest since his son's death, but claims it's been hard to get himself up for games, even though it's helped take his mind off things.

"It's been hard ... It's been hard to kind of get the motivation," he said. "At the same time, it's been kind of a comfort zone to get back into routine and think about something else for awhile.

"At the end of the day, these guys mean a lot to me and when we go through something like this everybody gets together and they really embraced me and given me everything that I need in this time. For me to just get back to normal and see everybody else behave normal has helped me a lot."

Karlsson's status for the team's final road trip remains unclear, but he's hoping he "can play the remainder of the season out."

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Blackhawks’ emergency goalie Scott Foster: ‘I think I’m just hitting my prime’

Chicago Blackhawks' emergency netminder Scott Foster is soaking in his special night.

Related: Blackhawks' emergency goalie shines after being thrust into game action

Foster wasn't shy when chatting with reporters following his NHL debut, in which he stopped all seven shots he faced in relief and was named the game's first star.

The 36-year-old accountant thinks he has a lot left in the tank.

"I think I'm just hitting my prime," he told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Even though the last appearance on Foster's HockeyDB was in 2005-06 with Western Michigan University, he's managed to stay sharp over the past 12 years.

"Who would have thought? You just keep grinding away in men's league, and eventually you'll get your shot," he said.

Now there's a point of motivation every men's league player can take with them.

This wasn't Foster's first time on call for the Blackhawks, as he says he's done somewhere between 12 and 15 games. He usually ends up watching the game from the press box, has a bite to eat, and heads home. Yet, on Thursday, all it took was one injury for him to dress, and another to get him into the game.

"I'm an accountant by day, so a few hours ago I was sitting on my computer typing on the 10-key," he said. "Now I'm standing in front of you guys, just finished 14 and a half minutes of NHL hockey."

It's safe to say Foster will be pretty popular around the water cooler during his next shift.

"You know, it's funny. You think there'd be a lot of pressure. But really, tomorrow, I'm going to wake up, I'm going to button up my shirt, and I'm going to go to my day job," he said. "What pressure is there for me?"

Perhaps the reason Foster claims he felt no pressure, was because the whole thing was just a blur for him.

"The initial shock happened when I had to dress," he said. "And then I think you just kind of black out after that."

While he may have blacked out during the game, the whole experience is certainly something he will never forget.

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Predators set franchise record for points in a season with 111

If you haven't already heard, the Nashville Predators are a pretty solid hockey team, and with their victory Thursday over the San Jose Sharks, the Preds set a franchise record for points in a season with 111.

Nashville has been on some kind of run recently, losing only four of their last 20 games, catapulting into first place in the NHL and in the ever-tough Central Division.

The Predators fell just short of the Stanley Cup last season, losing in the Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. However, this campaign feels different for the a re-tooled Nashville squad that has been playing with a chip on its shoulder since October.

So don't be shocked if the Preds translate their franchise record-breaking regular season into postseason success.

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Blackhawks’ emergency goalie shines after being thrust into game action

Scott Foster must've been shaking in his boots.

The 36-year-old Chicago Blackhawks' emergency netminder was forced into game action after Collin Delia suffered an injury in the third period Thursday night against the Winnipeg Jets.

Foster was flawless, too, stopping all seven shots he faced in 14 minutes as the Hawks won 6-2. He stoned Patrik Laine, the fans chanted his name, and he was the game's first star. Safe to say it was a night he'll never forget.

Foster's HockeyDB page is pretty thin. He tended goal for Western Michigan University for 21 games in the 2002-03 season, and one game in the 2005-06 season. That's it.

As you can see, he's still sporting his Broncos helmet.

Anton Forsberg suffered an injury in pregame warmup, making Foster's duties as the emergency backup to Delia necessary. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined he'd be taking the crease in the United Center during an actual game.

This is why we love sports.

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