Watch: Jack Eichel scores hat-trick in return to Buffalo, taunts fans

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel. Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Vegas' Jack Eichel scores hat-trick in return to Buffalo, taunts Sabres fans

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 11/10/22

Jack Eichel clearly hasn't forgotten his messy divorce with the Buffalo Sabres. On Thursday, Eichel returned to Buffalo for the second time since last November's trade to the Vegas Golden Knights, and he made this one count.

After being held point-less his first visit back, Eichel exploded for a four-point night, including a third-period hat-trick, helping lead Vegas to a 7-4 victory.

Eichel scored his first of the night 6:13 into the third when he banged home a rebound before turning to taunt the Buffalo crowd with his arms outstretched as if to say, 'are you not entertained?'

Jack. Eichel. pic.twitter.com/UuOnKUmgtn
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 11, 2022

Just over eight minutes later, Eichel struck again, corralling a pass from Chandler Stephenson before firing a quick wrister past Buffalo goaltender Eric Comrie for his second of the evening.

Jack Eichel is having a KNIGHT ‍ pic.twitter.com/TqefCNTqIg
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 11, 2022

Eichel put the exclamation point on his big night, scoring his third goal on an empty net with 7.6 left on the third-period clock.

This Jack Eichel guy is prettyyyyyy good pic.twitter.com/YCNyjK3s3c
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 11, 2022

Eichel clapped back at Sabres' fans following a less-than-warm greeting upon his first visit back in March.

Jack Eichel- "That's the loudest I've heard this place, ever. It only took 7 years and me leaving for them to get into it."
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) March 11, 2022

Ahead of Thursday's contest, Eichel told ESPN's Kristen Shilton that he was "surprised" by the reception he received the first time around.

"I'm just like anyone else; I'm a human being," Eichel said. "It was emotional for me like it was probably for them and maybe I was a little bit hurt and that's probably why I said things [after the game]."

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