Josh Gorges played his first game in a Buffalo Sabres sweater on Tuesday September 23. The veteran rear guard played well in the game. Watching the game live, I noted several times that Gorges was engaged in the process that night. He made smart plays with the puck, made crisp first passes and was extremely physical. Early in the game, Gorges took a hard run at Canes youngster Nemisz. Good thing the Sabres D missed the Hurricane played otherwise Nemisz would have spent some time in the trainer's room. Gorges brought the wood on that play and nearly knocked the Cane into Fort Erie.
Later on in the third period of that game, Gorges collided heavily near the Buffalo bench with Canes veteran center Jordan Staal. The two players crumpled to the ice together.
Staal suffered a broken bone in his leg and was forced to undergo surgery to repair the damage.
At the 19:53 mark of the third period with Buffalo leading 2-0, Gorges was assessed a double minor for high sticking. The Sabres D was holding his own and defending himself at the time. The ref opted to give Gorges the double-dip and sent him to the room to avoid any confrontations with the Canes bench after the final horn had sounded.
Fast forward to the 3:28 mark of the first period in Raleigh. The Sabres are playing their final exhibition game and Ted Nolan started Gorges in the game. Hurricanes agitator Chad LaRose took a man-sized run at Gorges while the Buffalo D-man was facing the glass. LaRose, no stranger to back-stabbing opponents, opted to plow Gorges from behind instead of checking up or avoiding Gorges altogether.
LaRose was assessed a 5 minute major for boarding and was booted from the game. Serves him right. He hit Gorges from behind and was given the proper penalty.
Gorges skated only 1:33 TOI in the first period in Raleigh due to the LaRose hit from behind. Gorges returned to the ice at the beginning of the second period.
The incident begs the question:
Was LaRose retaliating against Gorges for his hit on Jordan Staal? Or, was it merely a coincidence?
Gorges was the Sabre who hit J. Staal, right? Staal broke his ankle. LaRose crushed Gorges from behind, right? #accidentallyonpurpose?
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 3, 2014
Ironically, LaRose was playing in his first NHL game in over a year as he took last season off. He skated one shift then hit the showers. Dumb play from a marginal guy who is competing for a roster spot.
My guess is that Sabres GM Tim Murray will be contacting NHL Czar of Discipline Stephane Quintal to ask for supplemental discipline on LaRose.
Why?
You better believe that if Sabres energy forward Patrick Kaleta had hit a player from behind like LaRose hit Gorges, there would be a suspension handed down to PK36.
By the way, Gorges skated 17:51 in the 5-1 Buffalo loss. Elias Lindholm scored the hat trick for the Canes. Jake McCabe scored PPG for Buffalo. Michal Neuvirth was pedestrian in his hockeying. Its a recurring theme for Neuvirth. Zadorov and Meszaros were -3 apieece.
Bagnall and Strachan back to Rochester. Ditto Flynn and Dalpe. Zadorov to London. Pysyk and Kaleta injured.
Let the final cuts begin.
***
Sabres D Tyler Myers is all but assured a roster spot. In fact, he'll like pair with his Kelowna Rockets bro Josh Gorges to form Buffalo's top D tandem when the puck officially drops on the 2014-15 season Columbus visits Buffalo on October 9. Look for Myers-Gorges to log 25 minutes TOI per night. Myers self-corrected his nose-diving game with help from Ted Nolan last season. Nolan is expecting big things from the not-so-young Myers this season.
That's why Nolan gave Myers maintenance days on Thursday and Friday. He was given a maintenance day on Thursday. Myers made the flight to Raleigh, however, will not play in the preseason finale against the Canes, who the Sabres shutout 2-0 last week. Jhonas Enroth blanked the Canes and looked good doing so by saving all 34 shots that he faced. Tonight, Michal Neuvirth will get the Buffalo net.
The time has cone for Nikita Zadorov to put up or shut up. If he wants to make the opening night roster, he'll have to play exceptionally well in Raleigh, otherwise he's heading back to OHL London to play his third season of junior hockey for the Hunter Boys. I rate Zadorov as Buffalo's #9 D right now. I have Myers, Gorges, Meszaros, Ristolainen, Benoit, McCabe, Weber, and Pysyk
Nikita gets one final tryout in Raleigh tonight. Its his third straight exhibition start. He's played ok. Not great. Not bad. Just ok. In Wednesday night's 6-1 win over Washington, Zadorov delivered his best exhibition game effort. He was +1, had an assist, and landed a clean heavy body check in his 17:49 TOI. In last Friday's 6-4 loss to the Maple Leafs, Nikita landed two heavy checks, however was -1 in 15:51 TOI.
He's learning to curb his enthusiasm by listening more to his coaches and is keeping his game simple. He's not running all over the ice looking for the YouTube-style thundering body checks that he has become known for. His coaches and Tim Murrayknow what a ferocious, angry hitter he is. They like that part of his game. However, they want to see him stay in his position and to make those hits when they present themselves rather than running across two postal codes to find them. Good things come to those who wait, not to those who wait too late.
He told Sabres.com today that he's up for the challenge that is now before him.