Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - With Rasmus Ristolainen and Zach Bogosian out of the lineup, Brandon Montour played 29:14 against Detroit. While with Anaheim, he did play 29:36 in a game, so Thursday wasn't a season high. Montour said he felt fine during the game, "I was out there a lot, but as the game went on I didn't have too much time to think about the last shift so you just move on and my legs felt pretty good."
Phil Housley doesn't change the defense as that is Steve Smith's job. He said, "I looked after the second period and I saw he had 19 minutes, but he's very physically fit. I didn't see any slow in his play, he really attacked the game, you could see every opportunity he's charging up ice and he wants to be a part of it, so he played a very sound game."
Montour averages 21:47 per-game with Buffalo and Anaheim.
Buffalo has only won two of the 15 games he's played in. They didn't do a lot of winning in Anaheim when he was there either and Montour said, "It hasn't happened all year, I think if you look at my season with Anaheim we didn't have the best results there too, so I think every player goes through these seasons and unfortunately mine was this year.
"For me coming into Buffalo, I'd like to have more wins, but we're in a tough time of the year and we've got to find a way to collect wins."
I would think the losing would've made it harder for him to get used to a new city and a new team, but he said that hasn't happened, "No I don't think so, I think the room, the players, the staff are very positive and my mindset coming in was to get used to everybody around the arena, so yes I'd like to win more hockey games, but in the end for me coming in and being ready for next year has me more comfortable for sure."
Friday was an optional skate before the team left for Long Island. Evan Rodrigues and Jake McCabe both took part and both could play Saturday against the Islanders.
Housley said Rasmus Ristolainen has been very sick and has lost a lot of weight, so he will not go on the trip. Zach Bogosian and Matt Hunwick will both stay back too.
Don't forget Saturday's game is in the old Nassau Coliseum, which is now called NYCB Live. The place is fully renovated, but doesn't have as many seats.
