Panthers vs. Sabres Preview: This Isn't The Panthers Team We Shutout

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 29, 2011 12:20 PM EDT

SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 20: Goaltender Jose Theodore #60 of the Florida Panthers stops a shot by Patrick Kaleta #36 of the Buffalo Sabres on October 20, 2011 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Sabres defeated the Panthers 3-0. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres played the Florida Panthers on October 20th and shutout the Panthers on their home ice, 3-0. Since then, the Panthers have a different look as they traded away David Booth and Steve Reinprecht to the Vancouver Canucks for Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm. When asked before the game in how the Panthers had changed after the trade, coach Lindy Ruff gave this assessment:

It would be hard for me to really peg how they are different because you went with Booth who had great speed north and south to a great playmaking type player in Samuelsson, a good goal scorer though. So, I just would say they maybe have a touch less speed but a better overall player.

The Sabres are coming off their 4-2 victory over the Blue Jackets and Ryan Miller will be starting in net for the Sabres. Miller didn't look fantastic against the Lightning on Tuesday night and had the night off against the Blue Jackets, so I would expect him to come out looking rested and back on top of his game. He was the one that shutout the Panthers in their first meeting of the season.

The rest of the Sabres lineup should stay the same as only 13 players were on the ice for this morning's optional skate. That included eight forwards, four defensemen, and both goaltenders. Jochen Hecht was skating again after missing practice on Friday, but is still not close to returning to the lineup as of yet.

The Panthers should be starting Jacob Markstrom, the heralded Swedish rookie. On the season this year, Markstrom has a 2-2 record with a .945 save percentage and 2.11 goals against average. Markstrom is one of the biggest goaltenders in the league, measuring at 6' 6" and can cover a lot of space in the net. "He takes up a lot of net and on second opportunities and a lot of scramble plays where we don't think he should make plays, he is big enough to be there," said Ruff about the goaltender.

Game time is 7:00 pm and can be seen on MSG.

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Let's Hope They Come To Play

If the Sabres play tonight the way they played against Columbus, they might as well just forfit the game. There were just too many Sabres taking the night off on Tuesday. Namely, Myers, Stafford, Leopold, Roy, etc. The best line was the Gaustad line; Gerbe was particularly tenacious and effective in thwarting the Columbus rushes. Enroth played extremely well and was the difference maker in the game.

We need a much more coordinated and consistent effort from the team tonight.

by Geolover on Oct 29, 2011 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

My predictions for tonight:

-Roy scores his first goal, from Stafford and/or Leino… or the line gets shuffled by game’s end.
-Gerbe-Gaustad-Kaleta tear it up, Panthers will run after Kaleta all night taking retaliatory penalties (if the refs will call them).
-More points from the Vanek/Pominville/Boyes line on the PP or from Vanek/Pominville in general.
-Sabres will have the lead by the final 10 minutes, and Miller will hold the lead.
-One goal against off an inadvertent deflection or screen, probably in the second period.
-Regehr with a huge open-ice body check, makes highlight reel
-Someone will cross-check Gerbe in the face and get away with it (obligatory, once per game)

by lassathrax on Oct 29, 2011 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

I love it when Gerbe gets rough with guys

It’s always amazing how rough he plays. At 5’5’’ and 173, he’s like a little can of cement. Yeah he gets roughed up a bit, but he never seems intimidated.

by Munchausen on Oct 29, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Lets asses:

1. no goal, so lines shuffled. too predictable. Roy really tried to make it happen though.
2. this didn’t happen, but Gerbe did make some noise and Kaleta nearly erased Campbell in the 1st.
3. Yes and Yes.
4. Sadly, 1st half was right, 2nd half was wrong. More the ref’s fault than Miller’s.
5. Yes, but in the 3rd.
6. Didn’t happen this time.
7. This one happened figuratively, the referee took the cheap-shot.

by lassathrax on Oct 29, 2011 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions