The Anaheim Ducks play host the the Buffalo Sabres in a match-up of the NHL's top and bottom teams.
SABRES (3-14-1) at DUCKS (13-3-1)
- Buffalo lost 2-0 to the L.A. Kings last night and now have the tough task of taking on the NHL's best in the Ducks...the same team that beat them 6-3 less than a week ago.
- The Sabres, just like most of the teams in the East, are a complete mess. They have just three wins on the season and show no signs of improvement. They already traded Thomas Vanek to the Islanders and it appears unrestricted free-agent-to-be Ryan Miller may be on his way out too. When they do that they will lose and kind of credibility...
- Buffalo has seven freaking points through its first 18 games. With an 0-8-1 record, they are the only team in the league without a win on home ice. They are 3-6-0 away from upstate New York and will try and get number four against the Ducks...who by the way are undefeated on home home. Yes, this is definitely the tale of two completely different seasons.
- The Ducks need to be careful though. This has trap game written all over it...just ask the San Jose Sharks. San Jose let Bad News Buffalo come into its building and smack them around. The Sabres skated away with a 5-4 shootout win; it's best victory of the season...by a lunar mile.
- Meanwhile back at the nest....the Ducks are riding a wave of good fortune and positive vibes. The are 6-0-1 in the last seven and may have found a recipe for success with the man advantage. Could this be the started of an even better run for the Ducks?
- Can the Ducks power play build off the 2 for 4 performance against the Coyotes two nights ago? Chances are they will get their fair chance tonight. Buffalo is in the bottom third of the league in penalties taken. They are find themselves shorthanded an average of three and a half times a game with a 82.8% kill efficiency. Anaheim will need to take advantage of each and everyone of these opportunities. If they stay on the puck and clog up the crease like they did to Phoenix they should be fine.
- Just like crack...puck possession kills and Anaheim is deadly in this category. K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Stupid. That's precisely what Anaheim has done to be so successful. They outwork their opponent and force them to turn over the puck. This has generated countless scoring opportunities and more often than not the Ducks have made it count.
- Ryan Miller will in the net for the Sabres and Frederik Andersen will go for the Ducks. Andersen is 4-0 with a 1.36 GAA and a .952 save percentage this season. Miller on the other hand, is 2-10-1 with a 3.09 GAA and .919 save percentage.
I give Andersen the edge in this game. Buffalo is average 1.61 goals per game. The Ducks? Well, they are more than a goal and a half better at 3.29 goals per game. In Freddy stays sharp he should be headed to 5-0.
- Ryan Getzlaf leads the Ducks in scoring with 17 points (7g 10a) and hive five points (2g 3a) in the last three games.
- No, I don't think Ryan Miller is coming to the Ducks.
- What's up with Sami Vatanen? Listed as scratch in the last game. He was a bit banged up but from what I hear he is healthy enough to play.I know many are disappointed that he is not playing, but remember he and Hampus Lidholm only made the team because of injuries. The Ducks are stacked on the blue line and at this point it's a numbers game for head coach Bruce Boudreau. He'll get another shot. He has to. He's been really good. Right Bruce?
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