BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Sabres top-line center Jack Eichel is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a high ankle sprain on Wednesday.The Sabres provided the update hours after Eichel was hurt in the teams final practice before it opens the regular season hosting Montreal on Thursday.As of now, no timetable has been set for his return, the team posted on its Twitter account.On Thursday,?coach Dan Bylsma said that Eichel?will miss weeks and not days.Eichel was in front of the net when he got tangled up with a defenseman and his leg buckled beneath him.He lay on the ice and grabbed his leg in pain as the team circled around him. Eichel was unable to put any weight on his leg as teammates helped him off the ice.The injury occurred with less than 10 minutes remaining in practice, Bylsma said.Its the cusp and eve of starting a new season, one we are all looking forward to, and I think thats why it takes the wind out of the sails of the arena today, Bylsma said.Eichel is key to the Sabres future after being selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft. He is coming off a solid rookie season in which he had 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 81 games.Eichel played one year at Boston University and became the second freshman to win college hockeys top honor, the Hobey Baker Award.You expect to have to deal with injuries throughout the year, Bylsma said. Its one we are going to have to deal with, whatever the extent of the situation is. Our team is not just Jack Eichel, its not just Ryan OReilly.OReilly, the Sabres captain, participated in his first full practice Wednesday since he experienced muscle spasms during his preseason debut last week. He looked good out there, Bylsma said.Forward Kyle Okposo did not practice Wednesday due to a bruised knee and was ruled out on Thursday.Okposo signed a seven-year, $42 million contract with the Sabres in July after eight seasons with the New York Islanders, becoming Buffalos second-highest-paid player, after OReilly, who signed a seven-year, $52 million deal shortly after being acquired in a trade from Colorado last summer.Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov?was also?scratched after hurting his back during a preseason game two weeks ago. DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars are looking for consistency when they host the New York Rangers on Thursday at American Airlines Center.The Stars (12-13-6) play the second contest of a five-game homestand, one which coach Lindy Ruff said could define the struggling teams season. The Stars opened the homestand with a 6-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.Its important. We all realize where were at in the standings and how weve been playing to start the year, Stars captain Jamie Benn said. We see this homestand as a big one for us. Like you said, it could be make or break and we want to be making something of this. We got one tonight and well regroup and get ready for the next one.The Stars scored five goals in a span of six minutes, 43 seconds against the Ducks, and goalie Antti Niemi made 34 saves to improve to 6-1-1 at home. The Finnish goalie was playing for the first time in five games, and said getting a quick start was important for his confidence.Against Anaheim, Niemi made several key saves in the first period, including a stop on a 3-on-1 and a stop on a breakaway on the same shift.The Rangers (20-10-1) have been riding Antti Raantas hot hand and the back-up goalie made four consecutive starts. He won three straight games and posted back-to-back shutouts before the Rangers lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday 2-1.While Raanta played well in the loss, Henrik Lundqvist will likely start against the Stars and Raanta said hes well aware the Swede is the Rangers starter.Its special when you can steal starts froom Hank, Raanta said on Tuesday.ddddddddddddNo matter who starts in goal, the Rangers rely on one of the NHLs best offenses this season. New York scored a league-best 106 goals through 31 games, and 14 players have at least 12 points, including leading-scorer J.T. Miller with 22.Miller has been one of the NHLs breakout stars this season. He had 43 points in 82 games last season and is on pace to set a career high in his third professional season.The Stars led the NHL in goals last season, but have yet to find the offensive spark on a consistent basis. Theyve scored 11 goals in their last two home games, but scored only three goals during back-to-back road losses sandwiched in between the victories.Ruff is hopeful his lineup will build off the win against Anaheim, and the Stars should be better as injured players return to form. Jiri Hudler had his first point of the season against the Ducks, while defenseman Johnny Oduya played his second game after returning from injury and had an assist.The Stars will also have Jamie Oleksiak back as a lineup option against the Rangers. The 6-foot-7 defenseman was suspended two games for a hit to the head on Philadelphias Chris VandeVelde on Saturday.Oleksiak had been playing some of his best hockey this season before the suspension. While Oleksiak has only played in 13 of the Stars first 31 games, Ruff said his play recently dictated he should be in the lineup. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
