Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – JJ Peterka makes his return to Buffalo on Tuesday after being traded to the Utah Mammoth during the summer. That means Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan will also be going up against their former teammates for the first time.
In 12 games this season Peterka has four goals and six assists for 10 points. He’s also plus-6. In his last five games he has six points. When he was asked if he asked to be traded in the summer he dodged the question,
“I met so many great people in the organization, I had so many good friends, but I think right now my focus is on Utah and on the season.”
Many players when they come back they get booed by the fans. Peterka doesn’t know the reception he’ll get, but he said he liked the fans here,
“I always had a good relationship with the fans, they were always good to me, so we’ll see.”
Peterka has a few good memories about playing in Buffalo which made him smile. He said,
“I think my first game, that’s something that will be in my head forever and scoring my first goal too was pretty special and I think all the friendships I made in the organization and I’m still relly good friends with a lot of the guys.”
Peterka seems very happy being in Utah and playing for the Mammoth. He said,
“It’s been good, it was super exciting, got off to a really good start and I’m just enjoying it right now.”
Kesselring is looking forward to going up against old friends,
“Yes, it’ll be cool, I’ll definitely be a little nervous. I have some good friends on that side and those are the guys that helped me get into the league and show me the way.”
When your friends are on the ice it may not be easy to throw a body check at them. Kesselring said don’t worry, he’ll follow through,
“I was texting (Logan) Cooley and we were chirping back and forth, me, Josh and Cools, and it’ll be fun to get a run at some of those guys and play them hard.”
Kesselring has played three games since returning from his preseason injury and has been OK. It’s almost been like his preseason, but the big defenseman said the time has come for him to start rediscovering his game,
“I think some system stuff I’m still adjusting to, but it’s been enough games now where I just want to get my legs going a little bit, I’m feeling a little bit better with the injury and get more comfortable and I’m getting closer to 100%, so I think consistency, details because in the last two there have been ups and downs in the games, so I want to get myself going here, I’ve had enough time and it’s time to put the foot on the gas and play at the level I know I can play at.”
Lindy Ruff is looking forward to seeing Kesselring at his best,
“I think he’s still trying to feel comfortable with the way we play, and I don’t want to judge until 10-15 games, you’ve got to get comfortable, he spent a lot of time out of the lineup, he missed a lot of practices that puts him behind a lot of reps where I don’t think he’s at the top of his game yet, there’s a lot more to see there.”
Of course it’ll be sentimental for Doan too. He said,
“It’s a game that’s been circled for awhile and it’s a big one for us, so it’s just one of those things where a couple of shifts will be different, but once it settles in it’ll just be another game.”
Buffalo has just one regulation loss in its last nine games, yet the only thing the Sabres have been able to do is keep up. Buffalo is bunched with 10 other teams in the Eastern Conference that have either 14 or 13 points. That means they’re tied for last place, one point out of the playoffs.
The Sabres have points in 8-of-9 games going 5-1-3. That’s a .722 points percentage. They also have points in six straight home games going 5-0-1.
Noah Ostlund was called up from Rochester. They needed a guy as Ruff said Jason Zucker sick and is worse and neither him nor Jiri Kulich would likely be ready for Thursday’s game. Tyson Kozak was on the ice for the first time and Ruff is hoping he can play Thursday.
Alex Lyon will likely be back in goal after getting a game off. He’s 3-4-2 with a 2.90 goals against average and .912 save percentage.
Cooley has been red hot for Utah scoring seven goals and four assists for 11 points in his last eight games. Nick Schmaltz is their leading scorer with seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 12 games played. He’s only had two games where he hasn’t had a point.
Utah had won seven in a row before losing their last two. Karel Vejmelka has played 5-of-6 games in goal. He’s 6-3-0 with a 2.79 goals against and .890 save percentage.
Both Mammoth goaltenders are lights out against Buffalo, Vejmelka is 4-2-1 with a 1.86 goals against and .940 save percentage. Vitek Vanecek is 12-2-1 with a 2.18 goals against and .922 save percentage.
Join “Schopp and the Bulldog” for the pregame starting at 6:00 when you’ll hear from Peterka, Kesselring and Doan.