Preview: Sabres Open West Coast Trip in Anaheim

Game 7

Buffalo Sabres (5-0-1) vs. Anaheim Ducks (4-2-0)

Puck Drop: 10:00 PM EST | Honda Center | Anaheim, CA

TV: MSG-B

Radio: WGR 550

SB Nation Ducks Blog: Anaheim Calling

Know Your Opponent

Anaheim Ducks

Record: (4-2-0) | 8 PTS

Last 10: 4-2-0

Division Ranking: 2nd in Pacific Division

Conference Ranking: 4th in Western Conference

PP: 31st (0.0%)

PK: 9th (84.2%)

What to Watch

1. GOALofsson

Honestly, how much of a treat is it to watch Victor Olofsson play hockey? It’s made even better by the fact that he’s doing so in a Sabres uniform. Monday, Olofsson broke the NHL record by scoring his seventh career NHL goal on the power play; all of his career NHL goals have come on the man advantage. He’s a force to be reckoned with and boy, is he pretty good at hockey.

2. Power Play Stats

The Sabres are the best team in the league on the power play (42.9%).

Meanwhile, the Ducks haven’t recorded a power-play goal yet this season.

Enough said.

3. How Many Goals?

Tonight’s opponent is an interesting one. The Ducks have allowed only 10 goals against this season in six games, which is one of the best in the NHL (behind only Philadelphia (8) and Arizona & NYR (9)). At the same time, the Ducks are also one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league, putting up 13 goals so far. Comparatively, the Sabres have put up 24 goals, and the league-leading Predators & Maple Leafs have 28 each.

Game Prediction

Buffalo Sabres (projected)

Forwards

Victor Olofsson - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Jeff Skinner - Marcus Johansson - Vladimir Sobotka

Zemgus Girgensons - Johan Larsson - Kyle Okposo

Jimmy Vesey - Casey Mittelstadt - Evan Rodrigues

Defense

Jake McCabe - Rasmus Ristolainen

Marco Scandella - Henri Jokiharju

Rasmus Dahlin - Colin Miller

Starting Goaltender (projected): Linus Ullmark

Anaheim Ducks (projected)

Forwards

Nick Ritchie - Sam Steel - Troy Terry

Rickard Rakell - Adam Henrique - Jakob Silfverberg

Maxime Comtois - Ryan Getzlaf - Ondrej Kase

Max Jones - Derek Grant - Carter Rowney

Defense

Hampus Lindholm - Josh Manson

Michael Del Zotto - Cam Fowler

Jacob Larsson - Korbinian Holzer

(Former Sabres D Brendan Guhle may be a scratch).

Starting Goaltender: John Gibson