SABRES (0-4-1) VS DUCKS (2-2-1) 10/15/17
The Buffalo Sabres have not started the way they would have like to this season as they aim for their first win of the season tonight when they play the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. The Sabres and Arizona Coyotes (0-4-1) are the remaining NHL teams without a victory this season.
This is the first of two games this season between both teams this season, next time they play will be on Feb 6.
The Sabres are playing the second game of their first back-to-back set. They held a lead for the second time this season against the Los Angeles Kings before losing 4-2 at Staples Center on Saturday.
The Ducks could be without center captain Ryan Getzlaf for the fourth time in six games because of a lower-body injury that initially occurred during practice Sept. 27. Anaheim's leading scorer last season (73 points) missed the first three games before playing against the Calgary Flames on Monday and the New York Islanders on Wednesday. He sat out a 3-1 loss at the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and didn't practice Saturday.
The Ducks are looking to get some consistency going as they are currently .500 as they continue the season just like their power play as they are last in the league without a power play goal yet. The Ducks are 0 for 17 with the man advantage. The Islanders and the Ducks are the two remaining teams that have not scored a power play goal this season.
Some news from the Ducks is that Jon Gibson sustained an upper body injury during the warmups Friday and left after the first period against the Avalanche. He practiced on Saturday and had no problem looked well.
On the other hand, the Sabres have allowed four short handed goals in their first five games after allowing four all of last season.
The Sabres also have recalled Jusin Bailey from the Rochester of the American Hockey League on Saturday to fill in the spot for Kyle Okposo.
Players to watch
Goalie Chad Johnson made 44 saves in a 3-0 win at Honda Center on Dec. 17, 2015, a Sabres record for saves in a regulation shutout. In Johnson's most recent appearance, he gave up six goals on 22 shots before he was removed from a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
Evander Kane has been a bright side for the Sabres as he has seven points in five games for the Sabres.
Ducks forward Corey Perry has 16 points (12 goals, four assists) in 15 games against the Sabres.
Andrew Cogliano and Cam Fowler lead the Ducks in points so far in the season with six but may start to produce even more with the upcoming weeks due to the fact that Getzlaf will remain sidelined at least for another week.
Sabres projected lineup
Zemgus Girgensons -- Jack Eichel -- Jason Pominville
Evander Kane -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Justin Bailey
Sam Reinhart -- Johan Larsson -- Seth Griffith
Benoit Pouliot -- Jacob Josefson -- Jordan Nolan
Marco Scandella -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Nathan Beaulieu -- Matt Tennyson
Josh Gorges -- Jake McCabe
Chad Johnson
Robin Lehner
Scratched: Victor Antipin, Matt Moulson
Injured: Kyle Okposo (illness), Justin Falk (lower body), Zach Bogosian (lower body)
Ducks projected lineup
Andrew Cogliano -- Rickard Rakell -- Jakob Silfverberg
Patrick Eaves -- Antoine Vermette -- Corey Perry
Nick Ritchie -- Derek Grant -- Chris Wagner
Nicolas Kerdiles -- Dennis Rasmussen -- Logan Shaw
Cam Fowler -- Josh Manson
Francois Beauchemin -- Brandon Montour
Korbinian Holzer -- Kevin Bieksa
John Gibson
Reto Berra
Scratched: Jaycob Megna, Jared Boll
Injured: Ryan Getzlaf (lower body), Ryan Miller (upper body), Ondrej Kase (upper body), Ryan Kesler (hip surgery), Hampus Lindholm (shoulder surgery), Sami Vatanen (shoulder surgery)
Prediction: Ducks win this one 3-0 and start rolling with some W's to compete with the rest of the Western Conference.
