GAME-DAY RESOURCES
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LAST GAME
Tuesday, February 7
San Jose 4 at Buffalo 5 (OT)
Goals: Kane (2), Moulson, O’Reilly, Okposo
Goalie: Nilsson (36 saves/40 shots)
PP: 2/3; PK: 2/3; Shots: San Jose 40 – Buffalo 36
CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 257)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Cody McCormick (blood clots, Oct. 13; injured reserve) – 53 games
Johan Larsson (wrist, Jan. 3; injured reserve) – 17 games
William Carrier (knee, Feb.4; injured reserve) – 3 games
Zach Bogosian (ribs, Feb. 4; injured reserve) – 3 games
TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
2/4: Activated D Josh Gorges; Recalled F Justin Bailey from Rochester (AHL); Assigned F Cal O’Reilly to Rochester
2/6: Signed D Justin Falk to a one-year contract extension worth $650,000; Claimed F Derek Grant off waivers from Nashville; Assigned Grant to Rochester (AHL)
2/9: Recalled F Derek Grant and F Evan Rodrigues from Rochester (AHL); Placed F William Carrier and D Zach Bogosian on IR
UPCOMING GAMES
Saturday, Feb. 11: Buffalo at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 12: Vancouver at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 14: Buffalo at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 16: Colorado at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18: St. Louis at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
TONIGHT’S GAME
DUCKS at SABRES
- This is the first of two meetings between the Sabres and Ducks this season.
- Last meeting: Anaheim defeated Buffalo 1-0 in Anaheim on Feb. 24, 2016
- Next meeting: Friday, March 17 in Anaheim
- The Sabres are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games vs. the Ducks; 6-3-1 at home
- This is the 33rd game all-time between Buffalo and Anaheim; Buffalo has a 16-13-3 series record.
- The Sabres are 8-5-3 at home against the Ducks all-time.
THIS DATE IN SABRES HISTORY
- The Sabres are 8-5-4 all-time on February 9.
- February 9, 1984: Gilbert Perreault records his 700th NHL assist in an 8-5 win vs. New Jersey.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
- The Sabres have gone 6-0-1 in their last seven home games, marking the team’s longest home point streak since the team went 6-0-2 in eight home games from Dec. 10, 2013 to Jan. 9, 2014.
- Robin Lehner has stopped 73 of 76 shots (.961) in two career meetings with the Ducks.
- Kyle Okposo has eight points (5+3) in eight career games against Anaheim.
- Tyler Ennis has recorded five points (4+1) in seven career games against the Ducks, including goals in each of his last two.
SHUTTING OUT THE DUCKS
- The Sabres have shut out the Ducks seven times in the 32 all-time games between the clubs (Dominik Hasek-3, Martin Biron-2, Chad Johnson-1, Ryan Miller-1). This amounts to one shutout for every 4.57 meetings, the Sabres’ highest shutout-to-games ratio against any NHL team.
- This ratio is so much higher against the Ducks than the next closest opponent that the Ducks would have to score a goal in each of the next 22 meetings between the teams for the ratio to fall behind the next highest current ratio (Columbus, three shutouts in 23 games – 7.37 games per shutout).
- The Sabres’ last shutout against the Ducks occurred two meetings ago (Dec. 17, 2015 in Buffalo).
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
- The Sabres are in the midst of a stretch of eight straight home games against the Western Conference that began with a 5-4 overtime win against San Jose on Tuesday.
- Buffalo is 12-1-3 in its last 16 home games against Western Conference opponents and 10-4-2 in all games against the West this season.
- The Sabres are 59-19-16 (.713) all-time in home games against the Pacific Division, including a 13-0-3 record in the last 16 games. No Pacific Division team has won a game in regulation in Buffalo since the Edmonton Oilers topped the Sabres 3-2 on Nov. 7, 2014.
ROBBIN’ LEHNER
- Robin Lehner has not allowed a 5-on-5 goal in his last 198:42 of ice time, including 168:40 of 5-on-5 play. He’s stopped each of the last 91 shots he’s faced at 5-on-5.
- Lehner entered play Wednesday ranked eighth in the NHL with a .932 save percentage at even strength, joining Anders Nilsson (fifth, .934) in the top 10.
- Before Wednesday’s games the pair were also the only qualifying teammates (min. 17 games played) to rank in the top 10 in overall save percentage: Lehner (.923) – seventh; Nilsson (.922) – 10th
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Sabres last had two qualifying goaltenders ranked in the top 10 in save percentage at the end of the season in 1992-93 (Dominik Hasek and Grant Fuhr). Buffalo hasn’t had two qualifying goaltenders finish in the top 10 after spending an entire season with the team since 1989-90 (Daren Puppa and Clint Malarchuk).
WHO’S HOT?
- Robin Lehner is 5-2-1 with a .930 save percentage so far in 2017.
- Tyler Ennis enters tonight’s game on a four-game point streak (1+3).
- Ryan O’Reilly has 15 points (4+11) in 16 games since returning from injury.
- Jack Eichel has logged five two-point games in his last 11 outings.
- Evander Kane has 10 points (5+5) in his last 10 games.
- Kyle Okposo has points in seven of his last 11 games, including each of his last three (2+1).
HOME COOKIN’
- Ryan O’Reilly has 14 points (5+9) in his last 12 home games.
- Sam Reinhart has 11 points (4+7) in his last 11 home games.
- Jack Eichel has 15 points (6+9) in 15 home games this season, including six multi-point outings.
- Anders Nilsson is 7-1-1 at home this season, with a .941 save percentage and a 2.07 goals-against average in those games, and has won each of his last six home games.
THE KANE EVENT
Evander Kane has scored each of his 16 goals this season in his last 30 games, including a team-high 14 even-strength goals. In the period since scoring his first goal of the season on Dec. 3 vs. Boston, he is tied for fifth among all NHL skaters in goals (16), leads the league in even-strength goals (15) and ranks fourth in shots on goal (119).
*All rankings before 2/8 games
SOPHOMORE SURGE
In their second full NHL seasons, Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart have each improved on their points per game totals from 2015-16.
|
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
|||
|
Jack Eichel |
Sam Reinhart |
Jack Eichel |
Sam Reinhart |
|
| G/GP |
.30 (25) |
.29 (24) |
.38 (31) |
.21 (17) |
| A/GP |
.40 (33) |
.24 (20) |
.41 (33) |
.40 (32) |
| P/GP |
.69 (57) |
.53 (43) |
.78 (64) |
.60 (50) |
| SOG/GP |
2.9 (238) |
2.1 (172) |
4.1 (333) |
2.2 (181) |
(82-game pace in parentheses)
ASSIST-OLAINEN
Rasmus Ristolainen entered play Wednesday tied for 35th among all NHL skaters with 27 assists.
- Ristolainen has recorded an assist on 21.3 percent of his teammates’ goals*. Only one Sabres defenseman has ever recorded an assist on more than 20 percent of his teammates’ goals: Phil Housley (22.6%) in 1989-90.
- Ristolainen would need to fail to record an assist on each of his teammates’ next nine goals to fall below 20 percent.
*Teammate goals are defined as total team goals minus the player’s goals and shootout-winners.
SABRES AMONG LEAGUE-LEADERS (Sabres’ league rankings before 2/8 games)
- Buffalo Sabres: 23.0% PP% (3rd)
- Eichel: 4.1 S/GP (1st)
- Foligno: 180 hits (T-3rd)
- Kane: 3.5 S/GP (6th)
- Lehner: .923 SV% (7th), .932 EV SV% (8th)
- Moulson: 9 PPG (T-9th)
- Nilsson: .934 EV SV% (5th), .922 SV% (10th)
- O’Reilly: 21:37 TOI/GP (4th, forwards), 57.5 FO% (8th)
- Ristolainen: 17 PPA (T-2nd), 27:07 TOI (4th), 18 PPP (T-1st, defensemen), 27 A (T-8th, defensemen)
BUF-ANA CONNECTIONS
Former Ducks:
- Dan Bylsma played for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from 2000 to 2004. He had 32 points (10+22) in 209 games and was a member of the team that won the Western Conference after the 2002-03 season. Bylsma also began his coaching career during the 2004-05 season as an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.
Justin Bailey:
- He and John Gibson were teammates for the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) during the 2012-13 season.
Jack Eichel:
- Played with John Gibson for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Justin Falk:
- Played with Ryan Getzlaf for the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) during the 2004-05 season.
- Teammates with Jared Boll for the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2014-2016
Cody Franson:
- Represented Team Canada alongside Andrew Cogliano at the 2007 World Junior Championship.
- Teammates with Korbinian Holzer for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons. He and Jonathan Bernier were teammates for the Maple Leafs from 2013-2015.
Josh Gorges:
- Played with Ryan Getzlaf for Team Canada at the 2004 World Junior Championship.
Evander Kane:
- Represented Canada alongside Jonathan Bernier at the 2011 World Championship.
- Played with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry on Team Canada at the 2012 World Championship. Kane and Perry were also on the 2010 World Championship squad.
- He and Antoine Vermette were teammates for Team Canada at the 2011 World Championship.
Dmitry Kulikov:
- Played with Logan Shaw for the Florida Panthers during the 2015-16 season.
Robin Lehner:
- Played with Jakob Silfverberg for the Ottawa Senators during the 2012-13 season.
Jake McCabe:
- Played with John Gibson for the United States at the 2013 World Junior Championship and the 2014 World Championship.
Matt Moulson:
- Teammates with Jonathan Bernier for the Los Angeles Kings for part of the 2007-08 season.
- Played with Nate Thompson for the New York Islanders from 2008-2010.
Anders Nilsson:
- Represented Sweden alongside Jakob Silfverberg at the 2010 World Junior Championship.
Kyle Okposo:
- Played with Nate Thompson for the New York Islanders from 2008-2010 and for Team USA at the 2012 World Championship. Cam Fowler was also on the 2012 World Championship squad, as was John Gibson.
Ryan O’Reilly:
- Played with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry on Team Canada at the 2012 World Championship. They were also teammates for Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Perry and O’Reilly also represented Canada at the 2016 World Championship.
Sam Reinhart:
- Played with Nick Ritchie and Shea Theodore for Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championship.
- Teammates with Corey Perry for Team Canada at the 2016 World Championship.
Rasmus Ristolainen:
- Represented Finland alongside Sami Vatanen at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
NHL Draft:
- Ryan O’Reilly (33rd overall), Robin Lehner (46th overall) and Jakob Silfverberg (39th overall) were second-round picks in the 2009 NHL Draft.
- Marcus Foligno (104th overall) and Sami Vatanen (106th overall) were both fourth-round selections in the 2009 NHL Draft.
- Zemgus Girgensons (14th overall) and Hampus Lindholm (6th overall) were both selected in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft.
- Sam Reinhart (2nd overall) and Nick Ritchie (10th overall) were both selected in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft.
SABRES REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Hits: Foligno (180), Ristolainen (138), Carrier (96)
Blocked Shots: Ristolainen (123), McCabe (70), Gorges (67)
Shots: Kane (148), Okposo (131), Eichel (130)
SABRES’ RECORD IN 10 GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK]
1-10: 4-4-2 (10), 23/24, 8/35, 26/31
11-20: 3-4-3 (9), 15/26, 6/31, 28/36
21-30: 5-3-2 (12), 31/26, 8/30, 13/24
31-40: 4-4-2 (10), 27/31, 7/34, 21/28
41-50: 4-5-1 (9), 28/33, 6/27, 21/28
51-60: 2-1-0 (4), 10/6, 2/4, 6/9
OVERTIME RESULTS (6-5; 108-110 all-time)
Oct. 18 at CGY: L, 4-3 (GWG-Monahan)
Nov. 11 vs. NJD: L, 2-1 (GWG-Greene)
Dec. 5 at WSH: L, 3-2 (GWG-Johansson)
Dec. 6 vs. EDM: W, 4-3 (GWG-Ristolainen)
Dec. 16 vs. NYI: W, 3-2 (GWG-Ristolainen)
Jan. 5 at CHI: L, 4-3 (GWG-Kane)
Jan. 20 vs. DET: W, 3-2 (GWG-Okposo)
Jan. 21 at MTL: W, 3-2 (GWG-Bogosian)
Jan. 24 at NSH: W, 5-4 (GWG-Eichel)
Feb. 2 vs. NYR: L, 2-1 (GWG-Kreider)
Feb. 7 vs. SJS: W, 5-4 (GWG-Kane)
SHOOTOUT RESULTS (1-5; 68-63 all-time)
Oct. 25 at PHI: L, 4-3 (GDG-Giroux)
Nov. 9 vs. OTT: L, 2-1 (GDG-Ryan)
Nov. 19 vs. PIT: W, 2-1 (GDG-C. O’Reilly)
Nov. 23 vs. DET: L, 2-1 (GDG-Vanek)
Dec. 17 at CAR: L, 2-1 (GDG-Stempniak)
Dec. 20 at FLA: L, 4-3 (GDG-Trocheck)
MILESTONES APPROACHING (Player … Needs … Milestone)
Games Played
Nicolas Deslauriers … 4 games … 200 NHL games
Goals
Tyler Ennis … 5 goals … 100 NHL goals
Points
Rasmus Ristolainen … 5 points … 100 NHL points
RECENT MILESTONES
N/A
