Anaheim Ducks vs. Buffalo Sabres Game Preview

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 7, 2011 9:00 AM EDT

The first real game preview of the season means that the 2011 season is on our doorstep with the Sabres facing off against the Anaheim Ducks in Helsinki, Finland as part of the NHL Premiere series.

The time for predictions and debates about what could happen are over as we now will finally have

The Sabres will be led on the ice by Jason Pominville as he was named the captain of the team on Thursday night. This is the second time Pominville has been named captain as he was part of the rotation of captains in 2008. The assistant captains will be a rotation between Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek, Paul Gaustad, and Derek Roy. The significance of these players getting a letter is that these players have been part of a core group that has come through the system at the same time and they are the base of this team.

In terms of who is actually going to play, according to John Vogl of the Buffalo News, Mike Weber will start the season in the press box as it appears that he is the seventh defenseman on the depth chart. Marc-Andre Gragnani will start the season in his place. Matt Ellis will be the healthy scratch for the forwards as Luke Adam has made the team as a replacement for Jochen Hecht.

It is expected that the lines will start the game will be the same that were featured against Adler Mannheim. What I don't know is the exact order of those lines and who will start. Below are those lines:

Vanek - Adam - Pominville

Gerbe - Roy - Stafford

Ennis - Leino - Boyes

McCormick - Gaustad - Kaleta

The Ducks will be without Toni Lydman who is starting the season with a shoulder injury. Much like Hecht missed the exhibition game against his childhood team, Lydman is going to be missing the game played in his homeland which he talked to Paul Hamilton about:

Lydman had off season shoulder surgery and can't play Friday or Saturday. He of course is unhappy to miss a game in his native land against his former team, "It is very disappointing, but I try to look at the positives so at least I get a little extra time to heal."

The Ducks do have last season's Hart Trophy winner in Corey Perry as well. The Ducks major scoring line of Corey Perry/Ryan Getzlaf/Bobby Ryan. Those three combined for 103 goals and 142 assists and were three of the top four scorers for the Ducks last season. The Sabres are going to have to shut down that line if they have any chance of trying to take the first game of the season.

The Ducks also have a Finnish hero in Teemu Selanne which should have the backing of most of the Helsinki crowd. Selanne has become somewhat of an ageless wonder as he is playing in his 18th season in the NHL and will be a first ballot hall of famer when he finally decides to hang up the skates. How much of a hero is Selanne in Finland, here is a picture of his picture hanging on the side of the Hartwell Arena.

Game time is at 1:00 pm and can be seen on MSG. If you are at work and can't watch the game, there will be a replay of the game in Buffalo at 7:00 pm.

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Comments

Poor Weber. It seems like he claws his way into the lineup each season, plays pretty well for a guy who doesn’t have a ton of NHL experience, and then has to do it all over again next year. I like the toughness he brings, but if Gragnani can continue the play from the Flyers series, I’m OK with this. But….I like the physical presence of Weber. We shall see. Adam with Vanek? Catches me off guard, but at least they aren’t putting him where he doesn’t belong with a checking line or defensive line.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Oct 7, 2011 9:07 AM EDT reply actions

That worries me just a little bit because that leaves only two ‘defensive’ defensemen in the lineup in Regehr and Myers. But I guess we should trust Lindy knows what he’s doing. And Weber will get to play soon enough.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Oct 7, 2011 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know. For some reason, it seems that Ruff isn’t the biggest Weber fan. He keeps getting jumped on the depth chart. Even after losing Lydman and Tallinder, he started in Portland.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Oct 7, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah but Rivet and Leopold were ostensibly brought in to replace Lydman and Tallinder. And now with the addition of Erhoff and Regehr, it’s not surprising to see Weber pushed down the line a little bit. If you think about it only Grags has really passed him, and that shouldn’t be that big a surprise because they are the same age, and Grags got a lot more seasoning in the AHL than Weber did. I’m sure Weber will get his time, there’s bound to be injuries.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Oct 7, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Rivet??? Maybe you mean Morrison?

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Oct 7, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah sorry.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Oct 7, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we are doing this because we are playing on Olympic sized or International Ice. Therefore:

Grags Speed > Weber Toughess

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Weber play more back in North America once we are on the smaller ice surface.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Oct 7, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Interesting point. I hadn’t thought of that.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Oct 7, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

They aren’t playing on an International Size Rink.

"If we needed any more motivation to win a Cup sooner than later, we've got one now," Black said. "I really want to listen to the game that RJ calls when he finally gets to shout out, 'Buffalo wins the Stanley Cup.'"

by FloridaBuffalo on Oct 7, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

You are right. The think is slightly smaller than an International Size Rink, but it is bigger than an NHL size rink. TSN described it as a “hybrid” rink.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Oct 7, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

rink not think

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Oct 7, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s happening because Gragnani is very good on the power play.

Die By The Blade - Where we've even turned ourselves around since January 1st.

by Zachary Zielonka on Oct 7, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Why Weber

Sekera is the loose cannon here. He is inconsistent and his judgment is poor. They sould try to trade him, but then, they probably have tried that but found no takers.

by Geolover on Oct 7, 2011 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

With his brand new contract, there is no way he’ll be scratched. In fact, I doubt the even really tried to trade him. I agree though…if he can’t be consistent, he’ll be in the doghouse quick. Could it be that he’s the defenseive Stafford? Just waiting for him to show it on a regular basis.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Oct 7, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Grags will have is maddingly annoying moments...

just like Sekera and Butler had in the past. He still has his growing pains to go through. Listening to the Adler game, it seemed like Grags “lost track” of his man leading to opportunities for Adler.

Looks like the staff thought they did not need the physical edge today, but rather more of a scoring threat. Sekera and Grags will be an adventure.

by drwho62 on Oct 7, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Shout out to the 25 Sabre fans that won’t be rooting for the Ducks during our first “home” game. Glad the season is finally here!

by kitaman27 on Oct 7, 2011 9:35 AM EDT reply actions

It’s funny how this is the ‘home’ game while the game in Berlin (where we should have most of the crowd) is the ‘away’ game.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Oct 7, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

With all this time in Finland by the Sabres...

where has Armia been?

by drwho62 on Oct 7, 2011 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

Playing for his Finnish team.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Oct 7, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Why is this hard for people to get?

Save Jenrry Mejia!
Keep Reyes, Trade Wilpon.

by Ogre39666 on Oct 7, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

NFL Mentality, they think every sport is like the NFL and all top picks make the show right after they get drafted.

by FloridaBuffalo on Oct 8, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Players like Myers don’t help to curb that mindset, either.

by lassathrax on Oct 8, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Liking those line combos. Our “third” line is better than most teams’ second line.

by lassathrax on Oct 7, 2011 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

According to NHL yesterday

in their Final Rosters for the opening games is Vanek injured. I never found a link that confirms this info. Do you have some intel about this?

by dunyto on Oct 7, 2011 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

I know nothing of is. He played in the turn-up with Adler Mannheim, so as far as I know he is healthy as a horse.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Oct 7, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Aww, no more Gerbe-Gaustad pairing?

I know Gerbe is too good for the 4th line, but who doesn’t enjoy this:

by zacked on Oct 7, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

Looks like my five year old when she tries to pick me up :)

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Oct 7, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Blockquoted paragraph Matt Ellis will be the healthy scratch for the forwards as Luke Adam has made the team as a replacement for Jochen Hecht.

It would not surprise me if Adam plays well early on that line that when Hecht comes back Ellis goes down and Hecht replaces Gerbe on the “2nd” line and Gerbe replaces McCormick on the “4th” line playing with Goose and Keleta. Those 3 played very well together in the past and even in those early preseason games.

by mmtopny on Oct 7, 2011 12:20 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs