Gretzky Playoff Preview: (3) Buffalo Sabres vs (6) Florida Panthers

[OILFAN #81]

This first round matchup has already been set.

2008-2009 Gretzky Conference Quarter Final (Best of Seven)

(3) Buffalo Sabres




vs

(6) Florida Panthers



Lets start by looking at the lineups:

SABRES LINEUP

Elias(79)-Prospal(78)-Langenbrunner(76)
Steen(74)-Lupul(76)-Penner(76)
Parrish(74)-Fedorov(75)-Wolski(74)
Lucic(71)-Stajan(74)-Grier(74)

Green(77)-Gilbert(76)
Lydman(76)-Schultz(75)
Enstrom(74)-Sydor(74)
Pratt(70)

Giguere(83)
Dubielewicz(72)

PANTHERS LINEUP

Nagy(74)-Bergeron(78)-Gaborik(82)
Wellwood(72)-R. Niedermayer(73)-Nolan(73)
Craig(71)-Armstrong(73)-Mike Johnson(72)
Radivojevic(72)-Thorburn(70)-Ladd(72)

Phillips(79)-Zidlicky(76)
Morris(76)-Boynton(72)
Hnidy(70)-McGillis(66)

Fernandez (77)
Holmqvist (75)

Head to head regular season series:

Series tied 2-2 (Panthers outscore the Sabres 11-9)

Sabres 4 at Panthers 3
Panthers 1 at Sabres 4
Panthers 2 at Sabres 1
Sabres 0 at Panthers 5

So the Sabres won the first 2 games and then the Panthers bounce back by winning the last 2 games.

Analysis:

Goaltending: Giguere(83) should be a strong point for the Sabres in this series. Buffalo will have a distinct advantage over Fernandez (77).
Advantage Buffalo.

Defenseman: Buffalo has good depth from 1-6. Mike Green is their best dman(77) while guys like Enstrom and Sydor(both 74) will produce in 3rd pairing minutes. Florida has a strong top pair in Phillips(79) and Zidlicky (76) but depth might be an issue. Guys like Boynton(72), Hnidy (70), and McGillis (66) will have to step up and play solid minutes for the Panthers to have success.
Advantage Buffalo.

Forwards: Florida has the best forward on either team in Gaborik (82). He will be counted on heavily for Florida to have success. It's the next set of forwards for Florida that will need to show up. Patrice Bergeron(78), Ladislav Nagy(74), Owen Nolan(73), and Rob Niedermayer(73) will have to step up for the Panthers. Buffalo has a lot of depth in the forward position. They don't have a forward as good as Gaborik but they have a ton of depth. From their best forward in Elias (79) to 4th liners such as Stajan and Grier (74), they hold an advantage in depth. Buffalo can role four lines effectively which should help them in this series.
Advantage Buffalo.

Prediction:

Both these teams are good teams and proved that by finishing 3rd and 6th in the conference. Buffalo however has the edge in every position and therefore we feel they should take the series.
Buffalo in 6

[looooob]

good write up, although I"m a little wary to see us get props across all 3 positions....our forward /scoring depth has been key for us all season, can this continue in the playoffs?

[I wanna be like Miikka]

I fully agree with this assessment, Sabres definitely have a clear-cut advantage. The sim might have other ideas in mind though, so we'll have to see how this plays out.

I think the Sabres take this 4 games to 2.

[Sylvanfan]

One would think that so long as Giguere is healthy the Sabres would hold the advantage. But if he was to go down than it would give Florida a really good shot. Looks like it should be a close series....chances are it's over in 4 or 5 with the way the SIM can act.