RANGERS VS SABRES GAME DAY PREVIEW 1/1

RANGERS AND SABRES FACE OFF IN WINTER CLASSIC

10th Annual NHL Winter Classic

New York Rangers (20-13-5) vs Buffalo Sabres (10-20-8)

TODAY 1:00 PM, TV: NBC

Citi Field, Long Island, NY

The Rangers look to keep their their unbeaten outdoors streak going today as they face off against the Buffalo Sabres in the 10th Annual NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field.

Coming into today’s contest the Rangers have a 3-2 Win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2012 Winter Classic and two 2014 Stadium Series wins, 7-3 over the New Jersey Devils and 2-1 over the New York Islanders under their belts. Buffalo has appeared in only one outdoor game, coming out on the losing end to the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in the Inaugural Winter Classic Game in 2008.

Today is the first of three meetings this season between the Rangers and Sabres and the only “Home Ice” game for Buffalo in the season series.

The Rangers have a record of 2-1-2 in their last five games and are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss in Detroit to the Red Wings on Friday. Buffalo meanwhile are 2-2-1 in their last five games having lost their last game in New Jersey to the Devils on Friday in overtime 3-2.

Henrik Lundqvist will get his 4th outdoor game start going up against Buffalo’s Robin Lehner. The rest of the Rangers lineup will remain the same as Friday in Detroit with both Jesper Fast (Quad) and Chris Kreider (Blood Clot) sitting ot due to injury.

TEAM LEADERS

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 29

GOALS: Michael Grabner 17

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 21

Sabres

POINTS: Jack Eichel 35

GOALS: Jack Eichel, Evander Kane 15

ASSISTS: Jack Eichel 20

Rangers Projected Lineup vs Buffalo

Forwards:
Rick Nash - Mika Zibanejad - Mats Zuccarello
Michael Grabner - Kevin Hayes - J.T. Miller
Pavel Buchnevich - David Desharnais - Jimmy Vesey
Paul Carey - Boo Nieves - Vinni Lettieri

Defense:
Ryan McDonagh - Nick Holden
Brendan Smith - Kevin Shattenkirk
Brady Skjei - Marc Staal

Starter:

Henrik Lundqvist

Backup

Ondrej Pavelec

Scratches: Steven Kampfer D

Injuries: Jesper Fast (Quad Strain) Chris Kreider (Blood Clot)