Vegas Golden Knights beat Buffalo Sabres 7-4, Jack Eichel returns with hat trick

Vegas Golden Knights forward and former Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel visited Buffalo Thursday night to face his old team. As the Golden Knights advanced to an NHL-best 13-2-0 record, Eichel capped off his return with a hat trick and four points in the third period.

It was the second time he returned to Buffalo following his trade to Vegas in November. The sound of relentless, loud boos echoed during Eichel’s last visit to KeyBank Center on March 10.

With every score, Eichel, who was in the midst of his own seven-game point streak, taunted the crowd as he did the moment his skates stepped onto the ice 35 seconds into the game. This was the same crowd that had booed him.

B/R Open Ice

2022-11-11 02:46

JACK EICHEL HAS PICKED UP THE HAT TRICK 🎩 https://t.co/yVRy6oD6Y4

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“I think last year I didn’t know what to expect,” Eichel said. “I had an emotional connection—I still do—to this city and these people. I came in this year knowing what I was going to get and the kind of reception. I just tried to use the energy.”

In another era, Buffalo would have seen caps rain down in celebration of Eichel’s three goals. On Thursday, only Vegas fans who came to watch the game donated a few golden domes to the ice.

“I don’t know if I was (the villain) or not,” Eichel said of his finish.

“It seemed like there were a lot of people with Vegas jerseys and gear on here, too, so we had plenty of support. … (The fans) were obviously on me all night. Felt good to get one (initially). It was a big point in the game for our group.”

B/R Open Ice

2022-11-11 02:18

Jack Eichel scores and then gives it to the Buffalo crowd 😨😳 https://t.co/hTTEAAkCFW

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During the game’s final seconds, he scored an empty-net goal. The Sabres’ Eric Comrie had stoned Eichel on two solo chances earlier in the game, and Eichel seized the opportunity to score.

Eichel denied medical procedure

When the Golden Knights traveled to Buffalo in March, it was Eichel’s first trip back to the team that picked him second overall in the 2015 NHL draft. He had been with Buffalo for six years. A medical procedure was denied, leading to a sour parting as Buffalo wouldn’t approve of Eichel’s request to repair a disk injury in his neck.

However, Eichel acknowledged being surprised by the poor reception fans lavished on him in March. His tribute video was even booed. The stadium was so tense that night. Eichel responded by clapping back to the former fans.

“It was the loudest I’ve heard this place ever,” Eichel said in March. “Really. It only took seven years and me leaving for them to get into the game. They must just (have been) booing because they wish I was still here.”

His reaction in the heat of the moment set the stage for Eichel to have to deal with another unfavourable reception on Thursday. There were more boos, but none were louder than when Eichel helped defenceman Alex Pietrangelo score in the third period, or when he scored himself.

A cheer also erupted when Eichel was crushed by Comrie one-on-one in the first and second periods. A chorus of “Jack, you suck” chants echoed after the initial stop.

The fact that Eichel was able to handle those critics so well was heartwarming for the rest of his Vegas team.

“Three goals and an assist in a game like that, where the crowd’s on you like that? That’s one of the more impressive performances that I’ve ever seen,” said Knights captain Mark Stone.