RANGERS LOOK TO SWEEP SEASON SERIES WITH SABRES
New York Rangers (32-34-8) vs Buffalo Sabres (23-39-12)
TONIGHT 7:00 PM, MSG, MSGB, WEPN
Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
Game 74 of the Rangers 2017-2018 Season takes place tonight at Madison Square Garden as they take on the Buffalo Sabres. With 8 games remaining in the regular season the Rangers look to bounce back after a hard fought 4-3 loss to the Flyers on Thursday.
This is the third and final meeting of the season between the Rangers and Sabres. The Rangers have won both meetings, January 1 in the NHL’s Annual Winter Classic at Citi Field 3-2 in Overtime and at MSG on January 18 4-3. Pavel Buchnevich and Paul Carey both have tallies against Buffalo in the two games while Henrik Lundqvist who started both games against Sabres’ Robin Lehner has a combined 70 saves with 5 goals against.
Henrik Lundqvist who did participate in yesterday’s practice will not dress for tonight’s contest as he continues to deal with neck and back issues. Alexandar Georgiev will once again get the start between the twine for the Rangers. David Desharnais may likely be a healthy scratch with Peter Holland returning to the lineup after skating as an extra defenseman with Kevin Shattenkirk at Friday’s skate.
The Rangers have registered at least three goals in each of the last seven games and in 10 of the last 11 games and have tallied three or more goals in 42 of 74 games in 2017-18.
The Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Jesper Fast line has registered 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) over the last four games. Zibanejad currently has a four game goals streak and a six game points streak, Fast has a seven game scoring streak in effect while Kreider has a four game point streak of his own. Both Zibanejad with 26 and Fast with 13 have established new career highs in goals scored.
Neal Pionk extended his assist/point streak to six games with eight assists and has tallied 11 assists/points in the last 11 games. He leads NHL rookie defensemen in assists with 12 and points also 12 since he made his NHL debut on February 9.
Buffalo comes into tonight’s contest 8th in the Atlantic Division and having lost last night 3-0 to the Red Wings at home. The struggling Sabres have only won one game in their last five contests. Jack Eichel leads the team in points with 54 and goals with 22 on the season.
GAME DAY TEAM LEADERS
Rangers
POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 49
GOALS: Mika Zibanejad 26
ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 34
Sabres
POINTS: Jack Eichel 54
GOALS: Jack Eichel 22
ASSISTS: Ryan O'Reilly 32
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