ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

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BUFFALO -- Buffalo Sabres rookie Jack Eichel opened Sunday's game against the visiting Colorado Avalanche with an end-to-end highlight reel goal, putting the Sabres on track for a 4-1 victory.

Eichel's unassisted goal came at 2;02 of the first period. It was his 17th goal of the season. Just 2:40 later, Evander Kane made it 2-0 with a goal assisted by Sam Reinhart and Josh Gorges at 4:42. Reinhart added a goal of his own at 17:14, assisted by Ryan O'Reilly and Jake McCabe.

Colorado got on the board at 2:35 of the second period with an Erik Johnson goal. Mikhail Grigorenko and Jarome Iginla assisted.

The scoring was closed out at 18:10 of the third period with a Marcus Foligno empty-netter, assisted by O'Reilly.

The victory gives the Sabres a 23-28-6 record on the season. The 52 points puts them just three points up on Toronto for the worst record in the NHL. The only other team with less points than the Sabres at this point of the season is the Edmonton Oilers.

Buffalo next plays the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa on Tuesday.

NOTES: 

• Sunday’s game was the seventh of 11 afternoon games for the Sabres this season; the next will be on Sunday, Feb. 21 vs. Pittsburgh.
• Sunday's win was Buffalo's first against Colorado since Dec. 4, 2005, a 6-4 win in Colorado. Their last home win against the Avalanche was a 3-2 overtime win on March 24, 2003.
• With his goal, Evander Kane now has seven points (6+1) in his last six home games, including five goals in the last four home games.
• Kane now has eight goals in his last 13 games overall.
• Sam Reinhart's two-point day (1+1) improved him to six points (5+1) in his last six games.
• With two assists Sunday, Ryan O'Reilly now has nine assists in his last seven games.
• Marcus Foligno scored an empty net goal for Buffalo and now has five points (4+1) in seven career games against the Avalanche.

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