Ducks @ Sabres Preview

After making it three consecutive wins at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit thanks to last minute heroics from Ryan Getzlaf on Saturday, the Ducks head to upstate New York to face a Buffalo Sabres team looking for it's first win of the season.

Game Notes:

Anaheim took both meetings last season, winning 6-3 at First Niagara Center on November 2 and 6-2 at Honda Center on November 8. Buffalo's last win against Anaheim came in the 2011-12 season, taking a 2-0 decision at Honda Center on February 29. Getzlaf had his first career hat-trick in the game in Anaheim, while Emerson Etem and Corey Perry scored two goals each in Buffalo. Getzlaf put up four goals and three assists in the games last season, and has 11 points in nine career games against the Sabres. Buffalo leads the all-time series with a 14-10-4 mark against the Ducks.

During the offseason the Sabres added some veteran presence by bringing back Matt Moulson, while also signing Brian Gionta, and bolstering the blue line with Josh Gorges and Andrej Meszaros. Thus far it's the 20 year old Zemgus Girgensons leading the team with two goals, while Drew Stafford has a pair of assists to pace the squad. Buffalo gave up a pair of goals in the third period to lose their home opener to Columbus 3-1, then surrendered four in the final frame to lose 6-2 in Chicago on Saturday. Jhonas Enroth has started both games for the Sabres, sporting a .897 save percentage and 4.50 goals against average.

The Ducks played one afternoon game last season, defeating the Calgary Flames 5-2 on November 29 in a 1:00 PM start. Anaheim is 4-4-0 in games starting between noon and 2:00 PM over the last five seasons.

What Can We Learn From this Game:

After opening the season with consecutive games against playoff qualifiers from last year, the Sabres represent the first game Anaheim 'should win' this season. The Ducks started slowly in Buffalo last season, giving up the first goal of the game in the second period before scoring the next five goals en route to the victory. It'll be a point to watch and see if Anaheim can take control of the game early against an opponent they are better than on paper.

Fearless Prediction:

One of the players on the Kid/Norfolk Line nets their first goal of the season in a game that won't take till the 59th minute to find a winner.