NEW YORK — The speculation about Jack Eichel refuses to go away, or even quiet down for a while. The Buffalo Sabres captain has been the subject of trade rumors for months, and on his first visit to Madison Square Garden this season, Rangers fans made it known they want in.
Chants of "We want Eichel’’ broke out a few times throughout the game from the crowd of 1,800 Tuesday night, during the game in which the Rangers got off to a quick start and beat the Sabres, 3-2, to close out their three-game homestand. The Rangers (8-9-3) now go to Newark, N.J., for two games against the Devils, Thursday night and Saturday afternoon.
Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist in the game’s first three minutes, and Chris Kreider potted his 10th of the season midway through the second for what turned out to be the game-winning goal. Igor Shesterkin, starting his first game since last Wednesday in Philadelphia, made 22 saves to earn the win after having lost five of his last six decisions. The 25-year-old Russian goalie took a shot to try and score an empty-net goal in the final seconds of the game, but the puck was intercepted by a Buffalo defender.
