Game 49: Wake up, play better

After yesterday’s stinker, the Rangers are back home for one last game before the All Star break against the Sabres. These aren’t the same Sabres from last year that Mackenzie Skapski blanked twice. The Sabres basically built their top line in three months, getting Evander Kane, Jack Eichel, and Ryan O’Reilly in separate moves from the trade deadline through the draft.

The good news is that while they are certainly capable of scoring, they haven’t. That’s likely due to lack of depth at forward and defensemen that can push the puck up the ice (sound familiar?). Their team has skill, but hasn’t put all the depth and have very poor possession numbers. This is not a strong team, but they are a talented team. The Rangers usually feast on teams that lack depth, so this should be a good opportunity for a rebound game.

Sabres Systems

Dan Bylsma is in his first year as Sabres coach. When he was with Pittsburgh, he had the Penguins running an aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck in the offensive zone and encouraged puck pursuit in most situations.  In the defensive zone, he used a zone defense, taking out lanes and protecting the slot. On special teams, it was a 1-3-1 power play and  a diamond force penalty kill.

My guess is he runs the same systems in Buffalo.

Sabres Lines

Evander Kane-Ryan O-Reilly-Jamie McGinn
Zemgus Girgensons-Jack Eichel-Matt Moulson
Marcus Foligno-Johan Larsson-Brian Gionta
Philip Varone-Tim Schaller-David Legwand

Zach Bogosian-Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe-Cody Franson
Mike Weber-Mark Pysyk

PP1: ROR-Eichel-Moulson-McGinn-Ristolainen
PP2: Larson-Gionta-Kane-Bogosian-Franson

PK: Legwand, ROR, Schaller, Gionta, Kane, Girgensons, Weber, Ristolainen, McCabe, Bogosian

Chad Johnson gets the start.

Rangers Lines

J.T. Miller–Derick Brassard–Jesper Fast
Chris Kreider–Derek Stepan–Mats Zuccarello
Viktor Stalberg–Oscar Lindberg–Kevin Hayes
Tanner Glass–Dominic Moore–Jesper Fast

Ryan McDonagh–Dan Girardi
Marc Staal–Kevin Klein
Keith Yandle–Dylan McIlrath

PP1: Nash-Zuccarello-Brassard-Boyle-McDonagh
PP2: Kreider-Miller-Stepan-Yandle-Klein

PK: Nash, Stepan, Moore, Lindberg, Fast, McDonagh, Staal, Klein, Yandle, Girardi

Antti Raanta is in net.

Scratches/Injuries: Dan Boyle (healthy), Rick Nash (leg)

Crazy Prediction: A polar opposite performance from yesterday

Be sure to check out our ticket link if you’re looking for tickets to the game. Game time is 7pm on NBCSN. All gifs will be on nyrgifs.com.