GameDay Notes: @ Buffalo

Update (3:00 PM): George has a more thorough preview of the game here and the quotes from Babcock on the Maltby/Draper decision here. – Matt

Update (2:46 PM): Go read Bill’s latest. – Matt

Update (1:30 PM): Helm’s back, reports Ansar Khan. He’ll center the fourth line rather than the third, which will allow the other units to remain the same and Helm to have an easier transition with lower TOI. Draper and Maltby are the scratches, which has to thrill them both.

May-Helm-Eaves is an interesting line, eh? - Matt

Update (1:22 PM): Note I plan on livetweeting the game at @OtW_InGame. – Matt

Notes for the Wings’ first North American road game:

… Remember the early start time: 7:00 PM ET. And remember the channel: Versus.

… The Sabres are 2-0-1, but have managed to score just four goals thus far. They’ve been off since Saturday, when they beat the Predators 1-0 on the road.

.. As John W. pointed out last night in the comments, Ryan Miller’s had a strong start: 0.99 GAA and 0.955 save percentage. He’s going to be be tough to beat, though he’ll also have a tougher time stopping the puck in his first game against a team with a real offense (sorry, Montrel: no).

… The Sabres will be without defenseman Andrej Sekera (ribs) tonight and for the next couple weeks, probably. Toni Lydman will take his spot after recovering from a hand injury. It will be his first game this season.

… Lindy Ruff is one of Babcock’s Team Canada assistant coaches. The Buffalo News gets some very short mileage out of the fact that this will be Ruff’s third straight matchup against guys he either already has coached with in an international setting or will (Tippett, Trotz, Babcock). Exciting fluff—I mean stuff.

… Mike Grier’s a Sabre now. I’d say the Wings’ll need to keep their heads up, but we know it’s really his teammates that’ll need to be alert.

… Sabre previews: Die by the Blade, BfloBlog.

… For the Wings, this is a chance to go above .500 and hit 3-2-0. It’s going to take better offensive performances than they’ve put on yet, if Miller is going to be as solid as he’s likely to be.

… Promising signs that the offense will kick it up a notch: the performances of Filppula and Leino Saturday night. If those two can build on that, look for some magic from the second line.

… Darren Helm may play for the first time this season tonight. If he does, he should be centering the third line, though it’s possible Babcock will want to ease him in with a less demanding winger slot.

… Chris Osgood is the scheduled starter. I hope he takes it as a personal challenge to best Miller. Apparently, he’s more energized and confident this season. Not tired, thankfully.

… Brad May will be in the lineup in case any Sabres were thinking of being too free with the stars.

… I’d be surprised if Maltby suits up, given the charley horse he suffered yesterday as well as his having spent practice working in on the first line. It obviously depends on how the skate goes today (the news on which has not yet come out).

… It’ll be interesting to see how the lines shake out if Helm returns. Who on Saturday’s third line gets bumped down? Maybe:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi
Leino-Filppula-Cleary
Helm-Abdelkader-Williams
May-Draper-Holmstrom

Assuming Eaves as the other scratch and Helm’s being worked in easy. Draper’s foot speed makes up for that of the other two.

… Wings previews: Nightmare on Helm Street (and here), Snapshots.