‘Halfway through an eight-season, $72 million contract, Skinner has 13 goals and 32 points in 27 games. He’s one-third of a game-changing line that also includes Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. And the Sabres will be without Skinner again Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Kings, who have scored only three fewer goals than Buffalo, then Thursday in Colorado against the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche. He can’t return until Saturday night in Arizona.’