Eichel able to play despite tweaking ankle in loss to Capitals

Not long after the initial injury, it seemed as though the Buffalo Sabres and their fans were having to relive the nightmare all over again.

Jack Eichel was in agony on the Buffalo bench after tweaking his injured ankle in a collision with Dmitry Orlov in Monday's overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.

He remained in the game, though hindered, and worked to alleviate concern in the locker room afterwards.

"Hockey is a contact sport," Eichel said, according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. "So I figure that's going to happen during the year and I've just got to play through it.

"I felt good."

Eichel would not admit the pain he felt was associated to his high-ankle sprain that cost him the first 21 games of the year. His coach, however, would deliver such confirmation.

"I think it's the first time he's had any incident on the ice where he did feel the ankle," Dan Bylsma told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

Eichel has had a profound impact on a stagnant Buffalo attack, scoring three goals and four points in three games before being held pointless versus the Capitals.