Reinhart outshines Eichel in Sabres camp scrimmage

BUFFALO – They are considered to be pillars for the future, two cornerstone building blocks for a franchise that craves a return to respectability.

Sam Reinhart was selected second overall in the 2014 draft. Jack Eichel was the No. 2 overall pick in 2015.

They have roomed together all week at Buffalo Sabres development camp but on Friday night they went head-to-head in the Blue & Gold scrimmage at the First Niagara Center.

Reinhart centered the top line for Team Blue with William Carrier on his left and Hudson Fasching on right wing. Eichel wore gold and had his Boston University linemate, Evan Rodrigues, on left wing and Nicholas Baptiste on the right.

The final score: Reinhart and Team Blue 5, Eichel and Team Gold 2.

Or, in the friendly chatter between Sabres coach Dan Bylsma, a Michigan native, and general manager Tim Murray, a Canadian citizen, it was Canada 3 (for the goals produced by Reinhart's line), the USA 0.

"I had pushed my chips in for the other team," Bylsma joked. "Sam's line was the best and got the best of that matchup."

Reinhart is a year older and also has 12 games of pro experience (nine with the Sabres to start last season, three with the Rochester Americans to end it). He had plenty of jump, something easy to generate with 17,115 fans in the First Niagara Center stands.

"To see that, that's something else, I don't even know how to describe it," said Reinhart, who scored two goals and assisted on one. "Obviously that support helps each one of us."

Eichel, 18, didn't put on the show some of those fans may have expected. He admitted it has been a bit of grind since the collegiate season ended.

"I was hoping to see a blast of explosiveness," Bylsma said. "We didn't get to see that."

Still, Eichel said, "Overall it was a great experience to play in front of the fans and wear that jersey for the first time in a game."

He was awarded a penalty shot in the second period but, after a menagerie of moves, goalie Jonas Johansson kicked out the left leg to deny him.

"If I could have had it over I probably would have shot it," Eichel said. "I probably made one too many moves. It was a good save by him."

Besides Reinhart, defenseman Jake McCabe made a great impression on Bylsma. Then again, this is his fourth development camp.

"It definitely felt like it was my fourth year and a lot of guys first year," McCabe said. "First impressions are nice to make but it's only July."

KEVINO@DemocratandChronicle.com