The Sabres defeated the Blue Jackets 3-1 to move to 2-0 in preseason standings.
The record means zilch. However, the kids are getting a ton of experience and are earning their way onto the score sheet. Buffalo coach Ron Rolston's plan is coming to fruition. He's putting his top organizational prospects in positions to compete on this training camp, and his plan is paying successful dividends.
Forwards Mikhail Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons, Corey Tropp. Johan Larsson, Tyler Ennis and Joel Armia acquitted themselves very well in Columbus, Ohio.
Marcus Foligno earned first star of the game with his two goals, including the GWG.
Foligno's off season fitness and training routine is paying immediate return on his investment of time. He rocked his core and built up the strength in his legs so that he would skate with more power.
Foligno was a leader. He scored two power goals. He used his brawn and brains to play a heavy brand of hockey. He was rewarded for his persistence, physicality, and compete level.
The majority of goals in today's NHL are scored from the dots down. The game is played on the inside, not the outside.
You want to be successful and score goals? Send bodies to the net and arrive their in ill humor.
Here's Foligno's first one:
Foligno's second goal was a pure beauty! He looked like vintage Booby Orr as he stretched out his 6'3 227 lb. frame and went airborne into Bobrovsky's blue ice. I'll post a video of it shortly.
Superman!
This is the Marcus Foligno who scored 6 goals and added 7 assists in 10 games at the end of the 2010-11 season. he was proactive, not reactive. He took his game to the opponent and was rewarded for it. In 2013, Marcus played more of a read-react game. He wasn't as aggressive.
As expected, the Vanek-Hodgson-Foligno line played extremely well. They held onto pucks and create multiple chances while inside the CBUS zone. They buried their chances. Marcus and Cody were +1 apiece. In 20:42 TOI, Foligno had 2 goals, 2 hits, 4 PIMs, and was the best player on the ice. Vanek skated 17:28 and took 1 shot. In 18:24 TOI, Hodgson has an assist, was +1, blocked a shot and win 47% of his draws.
Ron Rolston played a hunch when he put Grigorenko between Girgensons and Tropp. I like the line's contribution, a lot! They were active early and often. They held onto pucks and won battles in the CBUS end of the rink. Grigorenko out worked Mike McKenna the backup goalie to score his goal. Grigorenko was much more of a noticeable factor in this game. First and foremost, he won 50% of his draws, a considerable improvement after winning only 14% of his draws in Montreal on Sunday night. In 13:37 TOI, Grigo was +1 with 3 shots and a block. 100% improvement from Montreal game. I'd have given him second star. He was that good. Girgensons, in 14:44 TOI, was +1, took one shot, and had an assist. Tropp skated 15:52, was +1, took ine shot and landed one hit.
This line deserves another look on Thursday night. They appear to have found a chemistry. Maybe Zemgus Girgenson's swagger is rubbing off on Mikhail Grigorenko. Girgensons and Tropp earned assists on Grigorenko's goal.
I also like the trio of Ennis- Larsson- Armia. Larsson scored a goal, however, it was waved off when ref said that the Swede gloved it into the net. Larsson won 80% of his draws, took 2 shots, blocked a shot, and landed one hit in 16:32 TOI. Ennis took 2 shots, had one hit, and one block in 13:44 TOI. Armia took 4 shots in 16:54 TOI. Rolston wasn't shy about skating Armia extra shifts in his first NHL game.
They deserve more playing time together and will get it in scrimmages this week, and in the next 3 games in five days (Canes, Leafs x 2).
Brayden McNabb led all Sabres with 5 hits. He skated 19:47 TOI and looked exceptional. No sign of rust as a result of his knee surgery. Looks to be in tip-top shape.
Matt Hackett was clean through 29 minutes. Made every save. Miller made 14 saves on 15 shots in 31 minutes of play.
Ryan Miller made 14 saves on 15 shots and was replaced by Matt Hackett at 31:00 minute mark.
Sabres will not practice Wednesday. They will host Nathan Gerbe, Reggie Sekera and the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night at FNC.
Coach Rolston's line combos and D pairings are creating impressive results.
Join the Discussion:
»