The New York Rangers are in Buffalo tonight to take on the woeful Sabres. This game is actually a makeup game from November 21, when Buffalo became Siberia for a few weeks. The Rangers lost in a shootout last night to the Vancouver Canucks in their second straight poor defensive showing. In fact, the Rangers have allowed three or more goals in six of their last seven games. This is in part due to the Henrik Lundqvist injury, but the defense isn’t doing Cam Talbot any favors.
The Sabres are the worst team in the league, and it’s not even close. This should be a good rebound game and a chance for the Rangers to turn one of their games in hand on Washington, Pittsburgh, and the Islanders into two points. With the Rangers five points back with three games in hand, this is a critical game if the Rangers want a realistic chance of winning the division.
What have they done lately?
The Sabres stink.
Sabres Systems
Ted Nolan has the Sabres running a 1-2-2 forechecking system and try to shut down the middle of the ice. For the defensive zone, he has them playing a zone system pretty much exclusively. On special teams, the Sabres run an 1-3-1 power play and a hybrid penalty kill.
Sabres Lines
Chris Stewart-Zemgus Girgensons-Tyler Ennis
Matt Moulson-Torrey Mitchell-Brian Gionta
Marcus Foligno-Brian Flynn-Nicolas Deslauriers
Johan Larsson-Matt Ellis-Cody Hodgson
Andre Benoit-Zach Bogosian
Nikita Zadorov-Ramsus Ristolainen
Mike Weber-Andrej Meszaros
PP1: Stewart-Girgensons-Ennis-Moulson-Bogosian
PP2: Foligno-Hodgson-Gionta-Zadorov-Ristolainen
PK: Mitchell, Gionta, Flynn, Foligno, Girgensons, Deslauriers, Ennis, Stewart, Weber, Bogosian, Ristolainen, Benoit
Michal Neuvirth gets the start.
Rangers Lines
Rick Nash–Derek Stepan–Martin St. Louis
Chris Kreider–Derick Brassard–Mats Zuccarello
Carl Hagelin–Kevin Hayes–J.T. Miller
Tanner Glass–Dominic Moore–Lee Stempniak
Ryan McDonagh–Dan Girardi
Marc Staal–Kevin Klein
John Moore–Dan Boyle
PP1: McDonagh, Stepan, Nash, Brassard, Zuccarello
PP2: Boyle, Girardi, Kreider, Hayes, MSL
PK: Stepan, Nash, Girardi, Staal, Moore, Fast, Hunwick, Boyle, Hagelin, Klein, McDonagh, MSL
MacKenzie Skapski is in net.
Scratches/Injuries: Henrik Lundqvist (throat), Jesper Fast (leg), Matt Hunwick (healthy)
Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 7pm on MSG.
Share:
More About:Game Thread