Brian Gionta came into Friday night with one goal on 42 shots on goal this season. One. This from a player with 263 career goals in the NHL, including seven seasons with more than 20.
The Buffalo Sabres captain is 36 years old and isn’t going to score at that level anymore but he couldn’t stay stuck at one either.
The pressure on Gionta was growing from within and growing from the outside as well. General Manager Tim Murray joked about Gionta’s 2.4 shooting percentage during his weekly radio appearance Friday. And how much longer could coach Dan Bylsma keep giving him top-six minutes without any production?