IKnowPhysics

I give him credit. He's in a tough spot, maybe the toughest spot he's been in during his career. His veteran professionalism helps him out here. Also, good question, @john wawrow. It's a nuanced interviewing ability to ask a useful question that gets the answerer out of their comfort zone without stepping over the line into assholishness. Everyone knows that Skinner wants to play, so he naturally wouldn't see eye-to-eye with the coach that benches him, but his response is interesting nonetheless.

Quality examination of higher fidelity gamelog data. Certainly worthy of consideration. In my mind, however, it still leaves open the problem of chicken vs egg. Is Skinner's down production forcing Krueger to demote Skinner's usage and ice time, or is Krueger's demotion of Skinner's ice time and usage forcing Skinner's down production? Despite not scoring and despite worse linemates and usage, he's still generating high danger chances at an impressive rate, implying Skinner's still a good player. But if tallying goals is the start-and-end of this discussion, those high danger chance stats don't solve this Robert Stack mystery. Where are Skinner's high danger shots going? (cue the hot beat)

Sabres have big PP at 34.8%, biggest in league. They dangle it in your face. Devils have micro-PK at 58.3%. No team has ever finished a regular season with such a tiny PK. Closest was '79-'80 LA Kings with tiny 68.2% PK.

Short term outlook: At 5-4-2 2.44GAA and 0.919SV, he is by far the best goalie in the system right now and maybe the only NHL-caliber goalie we currently have. But... Sabres' accelerated schedule doesn't slow down, with six games in the next ten days. At 1-4 3.24GAA and 0.889SV%, Hutton simply can't hang. If Ullmark is out for even ten days, and they decide to ride Hutton, you might as well put a bullet in the season now. JJ doesn't look ready, but hasn't gotten enough time. Tokarski and UPL have good enough numbers to get look in Buffalo, however, but they're unproven and likely not ready for long term action... yet. All three combine for only six games of NHL or AHL action under their belts in 2021. Not a lot of prep means bigger risk. If Ullmark is out, get ready for the AHL goalie rotating showcase and expect it to be better than Hutton but worse than Ullmark.

Narrator: He was that bad.

But if you would have told me we gathered a point with no Eichel, Skinner, Risto, McCabe, Rieder, Borgen, and 2/3 of Ullmark, I'd say lol wtf ok

Hutton is a ***** sieve.

Sheahan-Reinhart-Dahlin to take the draw. Immediately switched to Olofsson-Reinhart-Dahlin.

AND THE CARDBOARD CUTOUTS ROAR BACK TO LIFE THIS PLACE IS GOING ABSOLUTELY CORRIGATED

RAINHORN TIPPY TAPS

Ullmark went full Hasek and seemed to tweak a leg muscle/ligament on a big glove save in a stretching split. Seemed to bug him, so they pulled him for period two and three.

Flopping Matt Irwin blocked Hutton from getting his stick across for the five hole shot/bounce.

Joker took the shot lane instead of the man. Joker not making the same mistake next shift.

Buffalo #4 Double Minor Penalty, two minutes for

RK [putting $19M on the bench]: "I really like what we saw from the group of twelve forwards we had last game and we decided to keep that energy together going forward."

"They really stepped up and overcame adversity... that I created."

If it were any smaller, it'd be even strength... ...with you!

NJ has small PP energy.

That's how Sheahan drew a penalty. Defender fell, stick got under Sheahan's skates, Sheahan falls. Penalty on defender.

Victor Goalofsson Creasy Megastats

Good setup and finish.

Matt Irwin got played easily. Hutton got beat easily.

Hutton is in.