But 28-22-10 has to be back together again after this. It's our best fourth line in a decade. it's the first time we've had a fourth line not get totally caved in in a decade. We can't afford to play around with them.
And Phil likes advanced stats a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if it's more Botterill's plan to play Tage than Phil's decision, and Phil figured this was the game to do it if he had to.
It wasn't the rust, it was the decision-making at fault there. Toe-dragging at a virtual standstill is not a thing that happens in the NHL. He needs to be somewhere where he can make mistakes and learn things without hurting the Buffalo Sabres