Pre-Game Puck Drop: Anaheim Ducks vs Buffalo Sabres
By Ciara Durant
The Anaheim Ducks are fresh off of a harrowing defeat at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights. Tonight, they are fighting to keep their spot at the top of the Pacific Division.
Game 9: Anaheim Ducks vs Buffalo Sabres
Season Record: 5-2-1
The Anaheim Ducks return home tonight for their second game in a back to back. Their 3-1 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights leaves much to be desired from the team. Their struggles were evident and something needs to change if they want to hold onto the first place spot in the Pacific Division. With the home-ice advantage tonight, hopefully, the Ducks are a lot more cohesive. As they retire Paul Kariya‘s jersey, let’s hope they find inspiration from one of the greatest Anaheim Ducks in franchise history.
Location: Honda Center — Anaheim, California
Paul Kariya Jersey Retirement Ceremony: 3:15 p.m. PST
Time: 5:00 p.m. PST
TV: Fox Sports West
Radio: AM 830
Anaheim Ducks Projected Lineup:
Ben Street–Ryan Getzlaf–Pontus Aberg
Max Comtois–Adam Henrique–Rickard Rakell
Andrew Cogliano–Ryan Kesler–Brian Gibbons
Isac Lundestrom–Sam Steel–Kiefer Sherwood
Hampus Lindholm–Brandon Montour
Marcus Pettersson–Andrej Sustr
Anaheim Ducks Injuries: Ondrej Kase (Concussion), Patrick Eaves (Shoulder), Corey Perry (Knee), Jakob Silfverberg (Hand), Carter Rowney (Upper Body)
Last Game (3-1 L vs Vegas Golden Knights)
The Anaheim Ducks lost to the Vegas Golden Knights during their contest on October 20th. There is a limitation on the number of positive things I can say about this game because, honestly, this is probably one of the worst games the Ducks have played so far this season.
Going head to head with a team who was, before last night, 3-4-0 should not have been as big of a challenge as it was. Of course, this isn’t to say the Ducks were slated to win. Every team has games where they lose against another team they should have easily defeated. Nevertheless, their lackluster effort in trying to do so was very disappointing.
The defense crumbled under the pressure and the offense wasn’t much better. John Gibson faced 44 shots in three periods, and although he let in two goals, he is one of the only players who showed up on the ice.
The Vegas Golden Knights held the Ducks feet to the fire. Although their team has a few players out due to injury, their speed mixed with the constant pressure they put on Anaheim gave them the perfect recipe to win the game. Marc-Andre Fleury faced only 18 shots from the Anaheim Ducks. That number is proof that Vegas clearly controlled the game.
Ben Street‘s goal in the third definitely sparked a brighter flame in the Anaheim Ducks. However, despite their efforts, they fell short. Sam Steel, however, did impress in the faceoff, winning all ten. Isac Lundestrom has some great chemistry on a line with Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf. Unfortunately, they were unable to capitalize on any of their shot attempts.
“Sabre” the Moment
Tonight’s game is quite important for the Ducks and it would benefit them greatly if they can pull off a win. Not only are they at risk of losing the first spot in the Pacific Division, but Paul Kariya’s jersey retirement ceremony precedes the game. Winning in his honor would be a great end to the night. Nevertheless, there are a few things the Ducks need to be mindful of.
Anaheim is the Buffalo Sabres last stop on their west coast road trip. Currently, 4-4-0, their performance against the Los Angeles Kings last night was phenomenal. In a 5-1 win, the Sabres upset the Kings.
The Sabres ended last season as one of the worst teams in the NHL, winning the 2018 Entry Draft lottery and choosing Rasmus Dahlin as their first-round pick. However, they have come back this season to prove that they are in much better shape than last season.
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Speaking of Rasmus Dahlin, he is a player the Ducks need to keep their eyes on. Dahlin’s defensive prowess is top notch. He is a phenomenal two-way defenseman who is lighting on his skates. He is creative, shifty, and has terrific stick handling skills. Although he is young, he is an accomplished open-ice hitter who isn’t afraid to be physical if the need arises.
Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel are currently the Sabres top point producers. Skinner scored his first hat trick as a Saber during their game against the Kings. He is an agile player who knows how to create opportunities for not only his team but himself. He’s great at staying on the puck while maneuvering through traffic.
Eichel hasn’t had less than a 50 point season since his debut with the Sabres in 2015. He is a powerful scoring center who has incredible hockey IQ. He is the epitome of speed and knows how to control the pace of the game to give his team the advantage. His dynamic creativity with the puck is a desirable skill of any NHL player.
The Sabres have definitely struggled with development and the Anaheim Ducks have quite a few rookies who have shown sparks of NHL stardom. The Anaheim Ducks definitely have to do some problem solving with their defense. They either need to change up the pairings or find another solution.
Both teams are going to be tired tonight, each of them playing their second game in a back to back. However, one skill the Ducks have shown this season is that they can bounce-back after crippling defeat. After their defeat in Dallas, we saw one of their best games against St. Louis. If they can tap into that potential and stay on top of the puck, there is a big possibility we could see the Ducks win tonight.
Next. The Evolution of Paul Kariya. dark
Be sure to follow us on Twitter for live updates during tonight’s game, and, as always, let’s go Ducks!