“It’s never easy coming back when you’ve been out that long, but it looks like he hasn’t missed a game,” Grant said. “I knew he was a really good skater and sees the ice well. He’s got a good shot. He uses his long stick to his advantage, whether it’s holding guys off or slinging pucks. It’s fun to watch.”

The fun went to a new level when Eichel scored the winner with 5:32 left. It’s easy to dismiss it as a fluke. His pass to the front bounced off the Rangers’ Mats Zuccarello and caromed into the net.

Nilsson and Falk, however, believe Eichel made his own luck.

“I tip my cap to him,” Falk said. “He works his butt off all game, and you’re going to get bounces like that in the third where one goes off their guy. Those are going to come around for you if you keep doing things like he’s doing all game.”

Said Nilsson: “He scored some huge goals for us. Not only that, he showed some huge character at the end and worked hard. He won some important puck battles. When the guys see that, it brings everyone up and brings momentum. It’s huge.”

By lifting the Sabres to victories, Eichel has lifted a weight off the scorers’ shoulders. Buffalo had just 17 goals in 12 games before the center arrived. The team has potted nine in his two outings.