Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - When Phil Housley totally shuffled the lines in Los Angeles, the Sabres won three straight and scored 13 goals. Since Nov. 29, the Sabres have been the worst team in the NHL and Housley did it again on Monday. He said, "We're 3-and-7 in our last 10, No. 1. We tried different combinations within the last 10 to 15 games and we're trying to find a balance, maybe a spark and some continuity within the lines, but they're all subject to change."
When the line switch worked the last time, Housley said there were reasons for that, "We were playing the game the right way back then, making good puck decisions, managing our game. Our checking detail was really solid and we've got to get back to that.
"You can mix the lines up all you want, but if you don't manage the game and you don't have a respect for your own end, you're going to get the same results."
Buffalo has two power play goals in its last 11 games, going 2-for-28. Housley said, "It's funny, you look at all the analytics and the metrics and there's a couple of areas like our breakout to entry with possession is a little down, but everything else is good, but we're just not getting results. I think we have two goals in our last 11 games, so we have to take a long look at that."
Jeff Skinner did not play with Jack Eichel in Monday's practice. Instead, he was with Casey Mittelstadt, and the winger is fine with the change, "We're trying to shake things up trying to get a win tomorrow. Mitsy and Pommer are pretty good players, so it was alright.
"Throughout a season lines change all the time whether it's shaking up the lineup or injuries, so everyone in here is a NHL player, so you get to know your new line mates and get a chemistry going as quick as you can."
Skinner has just one goal in his last seven games. Most goal scorers go through slumps and Skinner doesn't panic, "I just keep working, that's just the way the game goes, you're going to go through stretches where everything seems to be going in or you go through stretches where things aren't going in as easy and you've just go to keep trying to get chances and sooner or later, things will start going in."
Last season, Mittelstadt played six games and had five points. He said Jason Pominville was key to that, "I haven't played with Pommer too much this year, but I played with him last year pretty much every game I was here, so I thought we played well together and Skins can play with anyone and he's a pretty special player, so I'm excited."
Johan Larsson was on the ice, but didn't take line rushes. Housley wouldn't say if Larsson will play. All he would say is Larsson is still day-to-day.
Monday's Lines:
Sheary - Eichel - Okposo
Skinner - Mittelstadt - Pominville
Smith - Rodrigues - Reinhart
Girgensons - Sobotka - Thompson
Larsson
Dahlin - Ristolainen
Pilut - Bogosian
Scandella - McCabe
Beaulieu - Hunwick
Nelson
PP1: Skinner - Eichel - Mittelstadt - Reinhart - Dahlin
PP2: Okposo - Rodrigues - Sheary - Thompson (Pilut) - Ristolainen
