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Buffalo Sabres PreGame Skate: Anaheim Ducks

By Melissa Kania

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The Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks are two teams that don’t usually see much of each other.

The last time the teams met was roughly 11 months ago, but for the next few weeks, the Sabres and Ducks will see a lot of each other.

They’ll face off this afternoon with a matinee meeting at 3 p.m. at the First Niagara Center, then meet again in nine days at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

HEADING INTO TODAY’S GAME….

The Buffalo Sabres will look to avoid an 0-3 season record hole this afternoon when they face the Ducks. The Sabres, of course, are coming off Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. With two games in two days here, the Sabres need to build some momentum to avoid going 0-4 on the season by tomorrow night.

Center Zemgus Girgensons leads the Buffalo Sabres with a pair of goals on the season, and he’ll look to extend his two-game streak this afternoon. Drew Stafford also has two points on the season, both coming in the form of assists.

Andrej Meszaros, Tyler Ennis and Marcus Foligno each have one point so far this season, while Tyler Myers leads the team with four penalty minutes.

Meanwhile, the Ducks are 1-1 on the season, coming off a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Ryan Getzlaf had a pair of goals, while Matt Beleskey notched his first of the season.

Newcomer Ryan Kesler also notched his team-leading third assist of the year; he’s now tied with Corey Perry and Getzlaf with four points each after scoring his first goal with the Ducks against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Defenseman Clayton Stoner leads the team with seven penalty minutes.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

For the Buffalo Sabres, keep an eye on Zemgus Girgensons as he looks for a three-game goal streak, which would be the highest of his young NHL career to date. Sam Reinhart is still searching for his first NHL point and will look to make an impact in his third game with the NHL club; his fate going forward is uncertain, but he could still be sent back to his junior club. Also look for left winger Matt Moulson, who will skate in his 400th career NHL game this afternoon.

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    • For the Anaheim Ducks, captain Getzlaf is the player to watch; he led the team with 87 points in 77 games last season and already has four points this season. Center Andrew Cogliano, who had 42 points last year, will look for his points of the season against the Sabres this afternoon. Finally, defenseman Hampus Lindholm is another player to watch; he was behind only Cam Fowler in Ducks blueliners last season with 30 points in 78 games.

    ROSTER OUTLOOK

    With it being an early game on this Columbus Day (and Canadian Thanksgiving) holiday, we may not get updated roster news until much closer to game-time, as there likely won’t be a morning skate, as there usually isn’t on afternoon game days.

    Will Nikita Zadorov see his first action of the season, or will he be scratched for the third consecutive game? How about Brian Flynn, or Tyson Strachan?

    Will it be Jhonas Enroth in net today, or will Michal Neuvirth get his first start of the season? With back-to-back games, it seems likely that the duo may split this pair of games. After today’s matinee, the Buffalo Sabres will head right back into action on Tuesday night with a game in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:30 p.m.

    How about for the Ducks – will it be former Team USA standout John Gibson between the pipes, or will Frederik Andersen start his second consecutive game?

    Tickets are still available for today’s matinee faceoff with the Anaheim Ducks, including some special “Kids Day” offers. If you’re fortunate enough to have the day off, the puck drops at 3 p.m., so head on down and catch some afternoon hockey with family or friends. All fans entering today’s game will receive a “One Buffalo” t-shirt in connection with the new campaign unveiled by the Pegulas at the Bills game on Sunday.

    If you can’t make it to the game, there is also a viewing party at Canalside in connection with the HARBORcenter Fall Festival. Fireworks will follow the viewing party at 7 p.m.

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