NHL Buzz: Skinner healthy scratch for Sabres

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2020-21 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

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Buffalo Sabres

Jeff Skinner was a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career when the Sabres visited the New York Islanders on Monday.
The forward has no goals and one assist in 14 games this season, the second of an eight-year, $72 million contract he signed June 7, 2019.
"We don't measure players only on statistics," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said before the game Monday. " … Really, it just is a bit of a gut feel that the best lineup for tonight was with Casey Mittelstadt in that spot. It's less against Jeff than it is for what we think this group needs today and what we need for a game from our team today.
"I did mention to everybody early on that that there would be players sitting out with the pace of games coming up. We've got five games in the next 6 1/2 days. There will be underlying messages of course any time somebody doesn't play, but in the end, the decisions are for the team and for the group and for the chance to win. I think it's good for Jeff to take a look once from the outside. We've got coaches active with him, working together to have him come back an even stronger player for us."
Skinner, who scored an NHL career-high 40 goals for Buffalo in 2018-19, has scored 14 goals in 73 games since Krueger was hired as coach. He's played for five coaches in 11 NHL seasons (Paul Maurice, Kirk Muller, Bill Peters for the Carolina Hurricanes; Krueger, Phil Housley for the Sabres).
"I've played for a lot of coaches and I don't know if it's like ... that simple," Skinner said Sunday when asked if there's a disconnect with Krueger. "Obviously, I'm going through a slump, and it's not something I'm used to, especially 5-on-5 because since entering the League I've had success 5-on-5.
"Obviously, I'm not happy with how things have gone so far. Changing the trajectory of that, is a challenge."
Since 2010-11, Skinner ranks seventh in the NHL with 205 even-strength goals.
"It's something that's not working and not going well, and I just have to work my way out of it," he said.
Jake McCabe will be out the remainder of the season after the defenseman sustained injuries in his right knee to the ACL, MCL and meniscus. The expected recovery time is 6-8 months.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Joe Thornton, Zach Hyman, Jake Muzzin and Frederik Andersen did not play against the Calgary Flames on Monday.
The Maple Leafs announced Andersen, their No. 1 goalie, has a lower-body injury shortly before the game. The severity is unknown. Michael Hutchinson started, and Joseph Woll was the backup.
Forwards Hyman and Thornton each is considered day to day with an undisclosed injury. Thornton played four games since returning from a 10-game absence because of a broken rib. He's skated on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner.
Muzzin has a broken bone in his face. Coach Sheldon Keefe said it was unclear how long the defenseman would be out.
"It's a big loss for us," Keefe said. "He does a lot of important things for us at 5-on-5 and penalty kill, and takes on a lot of difficult matchups. He's a big physical presence for us on the back end, and the chemistry he's had with Justin Holl has been very good as well."
Travis Dermott is expected to play on a defense pair with Holl, and defenseman Mikko Lehtonen will be in the lineup after being scratched from a 5-3 win at the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
"I talked to Travis Dermott though today, and it's a great opportunity for him," Keefe said. "It's something he's been waiting for and something we've been wanting to prepare him for in the event there's an injury. He's worked hard since Day One of camp, and he's got a chance here tonight to take a big step."-- Dave McCarthy

San Jose Sharks

Erik Karlsson is week to week with a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup for a home game against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
The defenseman will be out his fourth straight game when the Sharks host the Minnesota Wild on Monday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, FS-N, NHL.TV). He hasn't played since a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 13. The Sharks originally said he was day to day.
"We want to make sure we're careful with him," San Jose coach Bob Boughner said. "He's getting worked on and he's not ready tonight. Probably not ready for Thursday and possible for Saturday. Midweek, we'll try get him back on the ice."

Anaheim Ducks

Trevor Zegras made his NHL debut at the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.
The 19-year-old forward skated on a line with Sam Steel and Jakob Silfverberg at practice Sunday after he was recalled from San Diego of the American Hockey League. He scored two goals in a 7-3 win against the Colorado Eagles on Saturday, and his nine points (four goals, five assists) are tied with two others for the AHL lead.
"I was not informed prior to the game, I had no idea," Zegras said Sunday. "Actually, our GM (Bob Ferguson) grabbed me after the game and said practice at Honda Center tomorrow. He gave me some knuckles and said, 'Good luck, pal.'
"Obviously, I was pretty excited. Every kid's dream is to play in the NHL. That's what I was looking forward to for a long time, and then my family's been looking forward to, so I think it's going to
cleared waivers Sunday, one day after the Ducks (6-9-3) lost their third straight game, 5-1 to the Minnesota Wild. They've scored two or fewer goals in 14 of 18 games this season and are last in the NHL in goals per game (1.83). -- Jon Lane