Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres will attempt to open a season with a 3-0-0 record for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver has had Buffalo’s number in the last 10 meetings they’ve played, going 7-2-1.
The Sabres and the Boston Bruins lead the NHL in goals-against as of Tuesday at 1.00. Both Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski have played a game for Buffalo, giving up one goal each. Anderson will get the start in goal for the Sabres on Tuesday.
Buffalo and the Bruins are currently tied for 14th in goal scoring.
The Sabres have had early power play success, going 4-for-8 in two games, which is second in the league. The penalty killing unit is No. 1 ranked right now, killing off 6-of-6 penalties taken.
Buffalo Sabres forward Drake Caggiula is a big reason for why the Sabres have been great defensively and on the PK.
“I think the biggest thing is the way we hunt down pucks, the way we’re always buzzing around," Caggiula said following Tuesday's morning skate. "We don’t give a lot of team’s time and space, so that’s what we’re preaching.”
Caggiula’s career-high total for goals in a season is 13, which he scored with the Edmonton Oilers in 67 games. The winger scored goals in college at the University of North Dakota, netting 25 in 39 games during his senior year. Last year, he had just three goals in 38 games with the Sabres and Arizona Coyotes.
Despite the lower numbers of production, head coach Don Granato feels there’s more to come from the 27-year-old offensively.
“He does have some offensive ability," Granato said following the morning skate on Tuesday. "He’s got a great shot, he has that scoring mentality, so there are some offensive things to really like.”
On the flip side, Caggiula feels he can bring more offense to his game because of Granato.
“You’ve got to instill confidence in yourself, you’ve got to want the puck. I think in prior years, I was a little timid to make plays and I got away from my true identity as a player," Caggiula said.
“I’ve always been an offensive player all the way up until I got to the NHL. I lost sight of who I was as a player, and 'Donny' having a familiarity with me from Chicago [Blackhawks], he just lets me play. He’s given me some freedom, and taken the chains off me and let me run. I’ve been a little more selfish and not deferring to anybody, and I think the goals will come.”
The healthy scratches for the Sabres on Tuesday will be defenseman Christian Wolanin and forward John Hayden.
Vancouver has started its season on the road, beating the Philadelphia Flyers in a shootout, losing to the Detroit Red Wings and losing to the Oilers in a shootout. Brock Boeser has missed all three games due to injury, but will make his season debut against the Sabres.
J.T. Miller is 10th in league scoring with a goal and three assists for the Canucks. Nobody on either team has more than one goal.
Thatcher Demko has played two games for Vancouver in goal, going 1-0-1 with a 2.79 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Jaroslav Halak is 0-1-0 with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
Against the Sabres in his career, Halak is 13-4-0 with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
Join Schopp and the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. ET when they’ll be joined by Granato, Caggiula and Wolanin.
