Sabres’ Eichel to miss Panthers game, will be re-evaluated next week

Buffalo Sabres centre Jack Eichel (15) goes for the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Anton Stralman (6) during the third period of an NHL hockey game. (Chris O'Meara/AP)

Julia Kreuz January 3, 2019, 1:33 PM

Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel will miss Thursday’s road game against the Florida Panthers with an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated early next week, according to coach Phil Housley.

The team announced that Eichel is listed as day-to-day.

Coach Housley: "Jack Eichel is day-to-day. He will not play tonight. We'll re-evaluate early next week."

"We want to be cautious. There's a lot of hockey to be played." pic.twitter.com/lYixHd5FVY

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 3, 2019

The 22-year-old didn’t practise on Wednesday after leaving the Sabres’ 3-1 loss against the New York Islanders on Monday with an upper-body injury. He was listed as a game-time decision on New Year’s Eve and missed Sunday’s practice for “maintenance.”

Coach Housley said Monday that he believed Eichel’s recovery time wouldn’t be “too long.”

Jack Eichel has an upper-body injury. Coach Housley says he doesn't think he will be out too long. pic.twitter.com/3l4azPidJO

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 1, 2019