Main storyline: Two losses to start the 2014-15 was not what the Buffalo Sabres had envisioned at the beginning of the season. After a 6-2 loss to the Western Conference powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, the Sabres have returned home to the First Niagara Center and will host another Western Conference powerhouse in the Anaheim Ducks for a Columbus Day matinee.
Season series: This is the first of two match-ups on the year between the Sabres and Ducks. The next time these two teams will meet is in nine days when the Sabres travel out west to start a three game road stand in California. The last win the Sabres had over the Ducks was back on February 29, 2012 in Anaheim. Since then, the Sabres lost the previous two match-ups last season by a combined score of 12-5.
Where they stand: After two games, the Sabres stand alone in the basement of the Atlantic Division. In the rest of the eastern conference, only the Panthers, Flyers, and Hurricanes remain without wins. The Ducks sit 1-1 after losing the season opener to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and then winning on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Recent performance: For the Sabres, it was not pretty. The Sabres fell behind very early to the Blackhawks, only to come back to tie the game 2-2 before the end of the first period. After a scoreless second period, the Sabres fell apart by giving up four consecutive goal to the Hawks as they lost 6-2. The Ducks went into Detroit on Saturday to play the Red Wings after losing their season opener to the Penguins. The Ducks and Wings were about to head into overtime until Ryan Getzlaf scored the game-winning goal with 25-seconds left in the game to give the Ducks a 3-2 lead and victory.
Buffalo notes: The Sabres are having problems staying disciplined and scoring goals. Sound familiar? In two games, the Sabres have 45 shots and have scored three goals to show for it; two from Zemgus Girgensons and one from Tyler Ennis. The entire NHL team is averaging 29.5 shots per game. In two games, the Sabres have taken nine penalties, and have already given up two powerplay goals. The entire NHL is averaging about four penalties per game. If the Sabres want to contend and be a better team than last year, they need to get more pucks to the net and stay away from the penalty box. Jhonas Enroth has played both games the Sabres have played so far. In those two games, Enroth has 78 saves on 87 shots faced. It seems as though Michal Neuvirth will get his first start of the season on Monday.
Opponent notes: Unlike the Sabres with getting little production, the Ducks have been getting production from their top line forwards. Newly acquired center Ryan Kesler is tied with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry for the team lead in points with four. Perry had a hat-trick in game one against Pittsburgh, and Getzlaf scored the game winner against the Wings. The goaltender battle between John Gibson and Fredrik Andersen has been an ongoing experiment since training camp. Gibson stopped 39 shots on 45 shots faced against Pittsburgh on Thursday, and Andersen stopped 29 shots on 31 shots faced against the Wings on Saturday. It is unsure as of yet to whom will start in net for the Ducks come Monday afternoon.
Conclusion: The Sabres will look to avoid starting 0-3 for consecutive seasons. The Sabres will have home-ice advantage on Monday, as the Ducks continue their trip in the East. Opening face-off is scheduled for 3pm and can be seen on MSG Network.