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Eichel towers as Buffalo blasts listless Lightning

Tuesday’s game between the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning sure felt like two teams going in opposite directions.

The Buffalo Sabres managed an impressive 4-1 win, and it wasn’t by luck or accident. They often took it to the Lightning, ending a seven-game losing streak against the Bolts.

Ryan O’Reilly continues to be a bit of an under-the-radar force for the Sabres while Jack Eichel manages to please fans both casual and hardcore.

Eichel grabbed the opening goal and assisted on the game-winner by Cody Franson. Beyond that, he just looked like the beyond-his-years force many were hoping for.

Andrei Vasilevskiy suffered some rough moments, including a Marcus Foligno tally that more or less deflated the already-quite-flat Lightning.

Speaking of the Bolts, they’ve now lost two in a row to fall to 7-8-2, only scoring one goal during this two-game skid.

Most worrisome is their longer struggles: they’re just 2-6-1 in their last nine games.

This is still the time of year where we constantly mutter “it’s early,” but the Lightning have to be worried that their offense remains in hibernation.

Dan Bylsma admits it’s significant for the Sabres.