Buffalo Sabres: 3 Keys to Beating the Anaheim Ducks
By Paul Taylor
As the Buffalo Sabres prepare to take on the Anaheim Ducks, we look at three factors which could decide the outcome in California.
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The Buffalo Sabres made their first trade of a pending UFA, with the decision to move Mike Weber, ahead of next Monday’s deadline. The defenceman, who was the longest-standing member of the organization, will be missed.
Now though, the Sabres will look to recover from their 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and return to the form which saw them take 13 points from the previous 10 games. Next up are the Anaheim Ducks, who find themselves well-placed to make the playoffs.
This will be the second of two meetings between the sides this season, with Buffalo winning the first game just before Christmas. We look at three factors which will help determine if they can complete the season sweep.
1) Coping without Ryan O’Reilly
It appears Dan Bylsma didn’t have all the necessary information, when he said Ryan O’Reilly was probable for the previous game against the Penguins. Either that, or he might have been engaging in a little bit of gamesmanship.
As we now know, O’Reilly will be absent for three-four weeks, with a lower-body injury. Being without their leading point-scorer, is a huge blow for the Sabres, but they will have to adapt accordingly.
Interestingly, Cal O’Reilly has been called up to replace his younger brother. However, much won’t be expected from the 29-year old, who has just one assist in five NHL appearances this season and a total of 42 points in 118 career games at the top level.
2) Ryan Getzlaf
Truth be told, Ryan Getzlaf is not having a typical type of season. In fact, he struggled greatly early on, with just one goal in his first 33 games.
However, the three-time All-Star has turned it around recently, in impressive fashion. He is currently on an eight-game points streak, which includes four goals and nine assists.
Furthermore, Getzlaf is leading the NHL in scoring since returning from the All-Star break, with 16 points in 11 games. Overall, Buffalo can expect problems from Anaheim’s center position in general, with Ryan Kesler and Rickard Rakell on five and four-game point streaks respectively.
3) Facing a team with real momentum
The team the Sabres will face on Wednesday night, is totally different from the one they beat 3-0 back in December. To say the Ducks are on a roll right now, could be considered somewhat of an understatement.
Anaheim enters the match-up on a five-game winning run, which includes a franchise record of five goals or more during that streak. Furthermore, they are 12-1-1 in their last 14 games.
There are some professional athletes and sports media analysts who question if game-to-game momentum is even a real thing. However, given that Bruce Boudreau’s men have the NHL’s best record since Christmas, it’s tough to agree with this opinion.
Next: Robin Lehner provides the Sabres with a glimpse into the future
What do you expect from the Sabres against the Ducks? Let us know in the comments section below.