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Renovation Watch: First impressions

Thomas Vanek

Buffalo Sabres’ Thomas Vanek (26) of Austria, celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series, in Buffalo, N.Y., Sunday, April 24, 2011. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

AP

Every now and then, PHT will glance at the teams who changed the most during the 2011 off-season in Renovation Watch.

With the NHL’s first huge night of games almost over, the hockey world received introductory glances at some radically altered teams. Naturally, first impressions aren’t everything, but here’s a rundown of how remodeled rosters are shaking out through a game or two.

Sabres dominate in both of their games

So far, the Buffalo Sabres are justifying their substantial hype. They dismantled the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Friday and then handled a more balanced Los Angeles Kings team 4-2. The Northeast Division title bout could be a real slug fest.

Breezy allows one goal in two contests

The Philadelphia Flyers underwent dramatic roster surgery in the summer and the early results are promising. Ilya Bryzgalov earned a 3-0 shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday and helped the Flyers ruin the Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup party 2-1. Newcomers Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek and Jaromir Jagr have already registered a point, but holdover Claude Giroux is embracing his push to the headliner role; he already hast two goals.

Panthers blank Islanders in sleepy match between big dreamers

Depending upon who you ask, the Florida Panthers or New York Islanders could be the “sleepers” of the East. The two teams played a yawner tonight, as Jose Theodore helped the Panthers blank the Isles 2-0. Florida is clearly going to get as much value out of Brian Campbell’s whale-like contract as they can - he assisted on both goals and played a whopping 30 minutes tonight.

Heatley and Setoguchi score in their Wild debuts

The Minnesota Wild beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 in a fight between two renovated teams. The Wild’s off-season additions had a nice debut, as Dany Heatley scored and then assisted on Devin Setoguchi’s goal. Maybe it’s a bit unfair to truly critique Columbus since they’ll play six more games without James Wisniewski, but they’re 0-2-0 so far. The biggest move might be the one they didn’t make; Steve Mason didn’t even make it through the entire game after allowing all four Wild goals in the first two periods.

Renovated Records:

Philadelphia: 2-0-0 (four points)
Buffalo: 2-0-0 (four pts.)
Florida: 1-0-0 (two pts.)
Minnesota: 1-0-0 (two pts.)
Columbus: 0-2-0 (zero pts.)