Forward scores 19 seconds into return from groin surgery; Jack Eichel adds two goals.
By Joe Yerdon / NHL.com Correspondent
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tyler Ennis scored 19 seconds into his return to the lineup and Jack Eichel scored two goals to help the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 win against the Dallas Stars at KeyBank Center on Monday.
Ennis missed the past 30 games after groin surgery on Nov. 10 and gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead. He skated up the right wing and took a shot from the faceoff circle that beat Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen over his right shoulder for his second goal of the season.
Eichel gave the Sabres a 3-1 lead 7:07 into the second period when he scored on a rebound of a shot in front by Sam Reinhart that beat Lehtonen. Reinhart has three goals and 10 assists in his past 13 games.
Eichel added an empty-net goal with 10 seconds left in the third for his 10th goal.
The Sabres (17-17-9) ended a two-game losing streak. The Stars (18-19-8) have lost two straight and six of their past eight games.
Jake McCabe’s power-play goal made it 2-0 with 7:26 left in the first period. McCabe picked up a turnover by Stars forward Jamie Benn in the high slot and beat Lehtonen high to the right corner for his first goal of the season.
Stars forward Radek Faksa cut the lead to 2-1 with 4:46 left in the first. Forward Jiri Hudler’s shot went off the post and the puck bounced off Faksa and past Sabres goalie Robin Lehner for his sixth goal of the season.
The Stars nearly made it 2-2 1:38 into the second when a shot by defenseman Stephen Johns deflected past Lehner but Sabres coach Dan Bylsma challenged the play was offside. After review, it was found Stars forward Patrick Eaves was in the zone ahead of the play and nullified the goal.
*NOTES — The Sabres on Monday announced the team has recalled forward Cal O’Reilly from the Rochester Americans. O’Reilly (30, 6-foot-0, 193 lbs.) joins the Sabres for his second recall of the season after playing four games for the team in November. The Toronto, Ontario native is currently tied for second in the AHL with 26 assists and is tied for ninth in the league with 34 points overall (8+26). In 20 games for the Sabres during the 2015-16 season, O’Reilly recorded seven points (3+4) and two penalty minutes.