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Anaheim Ducks vs. Buffalo Sabres: Game 7 Preview

By Josh Paulisin |
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Oct 13, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing

Brian Gionta

(12) brings the puck up ice while defended by Anaheim Ducks defenseman

Cam Fowler

(4) during the third period at First Niagara Center. Anaheim beats Buffalo 5 to 1. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Basics

Buffalo Sabres vs. Anaheim Ducks

Game No. 7

Date: 10/22/14

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Honda Center/Anaheim, Calif.

TV/Radio: Prime Ticket/AM 830

Season Series

1-0 Ducks

Oct. 13, 2014 — 5-1 Ducks

Click ‘next’ to view team reports.

Josh Paulisin is one of the editors for Pucks of a Feather. You can follow him on Twitter. For more Anaheim Ducks coverage, follow Pucks of a Feather on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Buffalo Sabres

1-5-0, 2 PTS

8th in Atlantic

Oct 17, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing

Tyler Ennis

(63) looks for the puck during the second period against the Florida Panthers at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Last Game

Saturday, Oct. 18  vs. Boston Bruins

4-1 Loss

Leaders

Forwards & Defensemen

Goals: Marcus Foligno, Tyler Ennis, Zemgus Girgensons (tied with 2)

Assists: Drew Stafford (3)

Points: Drew Stafford, Marcus Foligno (tied with 3)

+/-: Zemgus Girgensons (1)

PIM: Nicolas Deslauriers (11)

Goalies

Wins: Jhonas Enroth (1)

GAA: Jhonas Enroth (3.34)

SV%: Jhonas Enroth (.907%)

Breakdown

Through only six games into the young 2014-15 season, the Buffalo Sabres have jumped off a cliff and smacked rock bottom. After finishing with a league-worst 52 points in 2013-14, Buffalo is back down there again along with Carolina Hurricanes. Granted, expectations weren’t through the roof going into this season, but fans can’t be happy with how the Sabres are losing. Out of Buffalo’s five defeats, three of them have been by four goals. In those three matchups, the Sabres have been out-shot 127-67. They have also been shutout in back-to-back games.

It has been a tough-go for head coach Ted Nolan, who called his club’s game against Anaheim “an NHL team playing a ‘peewee’ team.” His offense remains stagnant, currently ranking last (1.2 GPG, 30th) in the league. The power play is invisible as Buffalo is one of only three teams that have yet to convert with the man advantage. And on top of that, the Sabres have allowed nearly four goals per game.

Beginning with tonight’s tilt in Anaheim, the Sabres will embark on a four-game road swing and will stay in California to face Los Angeles and San Jose later this week.

Anaheim Ducks

5-1-0

1st in Pacific

Oct 19, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman

Sami Vatanen

(45) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues in the first period during the game at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Last Game

Sunday, Oct. 19 vs. St. Louis Blues

3-0 Win

Leaders

Forwards & Defensemen

Goals: Corey Perry (5)

Assists: Ryan Getzlaf (6)

Points: Ryan Getzlaf (8)

+/-: William Karlsson, Hampus Lindholm (4)

PIM: Ryan Kesler, Clayton Stoner (tied with 9)

Goalies

Wins: Frederik Andersen (5)

GAA: Frederik Andersen (1.38)

SV%: Frederik Andersen (.950)

Breakdown

The Anaheim Ducks are rolling. After a lopsided defeat on opening night to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ducks have stormed back to win their last five games, which has pole-vaulted the back-to-back division champions to the top of the Pacific.

During the winning streak, Anaheim has found multiple ways to win. Whether it was a game-winner in the final minute (Red Wings), total domination (Sabres), a shootout (Flyers) or a “we got outplayed but still found a way to win” affair (Wild), Bruce Boudreau‘s squad continues to impress. Good teams simply find a way to get the job done and the Ducks are proving that, once again, they’ll be one of the elite teams in the Western Conference this season.

Led by Getzlaf (two goals, six assists) and Corey Perry (five goals, two assists), the Ducks should produce plenty of offense (3.3 GPG, 5th) this season. Frederik Andersen seems to have cemented his place in between the pipes as he had a magnificent start to his 2014-15 campaign. In five starts, the 25-year-old leads the NHL in wins (5) and ranks high in goals against average (1.38) and save percentage (.950). Rookie John Gibson returned to Anaheim earlier this week, but Boudreau will continue to ride the hot glove in Andersen.

Anaheim has won its first two games of the five-game home stand and will face-off against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

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