Sabres travel West to take on Avs

by David Oleksy on Oct 25, 2008 8:39 AM EDT

Game #8

Buffalo Sabres (6-0-1, 13PTS) @ Colorado Avalanche (4-3-0, 8PTS)

9:00 PM EST, Pepsi Center

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550 (Buffalo)

The Colorado Avalanche pose a whole new problem for the Sabres. They are probably the best offensive team the Sabres have played so far this season. The Avs are averaging four goals a game through their first seven starts. They are led by Milan Hejduk who has scored six goals but they have received goals from 16 different players.

The Avs weakness so far has been their goaltending. They have allowed over three goals a game while holding opponents to an average of 25 shots on goal. Peter Budaj was the opening day starter but has struggled for the Avs and has a 2-3-0 record. Andrew Raycroft won both his starts but he has allowed three goals a game and has only a .875 save percentage.

The Sabres have been average in 5-on-5 situations, although they improved greatly in the final minutes of the 4-3 victory over the Wild on Thursday. However they have been great on special teams with Thomas Vanek (2 PP Goals, 2 SH Goals) leading the way. Te Avs have struggled to kill off penalties so look for this to be an area of focus for the Sabres.

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Comments

goaltending

Hey there, I’m really looking forward to our teams squaring off. I think this could be the first real test the Avalanche have faced since the start of this season. I know we lost our first 3 games where, admittedly, our defense looked rather shaky and our goaltending was atrocious.

That’s all fixed now. Budaj (who will start tonight) was a .962% goaltender against the Oilers last game and looks like he’s regaining the confidence he had in his 15-2-2 stint 2 years ago. Our offense is as lethal as it was in our last cup-run, but they’re sometimes leaving the defense out to dry.

It might be nice for some of the Sabres fans to drop by MHH sometime (after the gamethread is made, you see, our mod is moving on up in the world and is a busy bee) and tell us what you’re expecting of tonight’s game.

My prediction: Get ready to have that last 0 changed to a 1.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 25, 2008 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

I would love to

stop by MHH, hell I would even like to be here but unfortunately my broadcasting duties are going to tie me up for part of the night. If it’s a quick game and I write a quick game recap…I can be in front of a TV by the start of the third period.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by David Oleksy on Oct 25, 2008 2:40 PM EDT reply actions