Sabres vs Rangers Preview
Image credits: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Sabres are set to face the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center, looking to maintain their momentum from before the break and climb back into contention. With four players back from the 4 Nations Face-Off and three others returning from injury, the Sabres are ready to begin this final, 28-game stretch of the regular season. The team has been playing some of their best hockey of the season, winning four of their last five games before the two-week hiatus.
Key players such as Jordan Greenway, Mattias Samuelsson, and Beck Malenstyn are expected to return to the lineup, providing a boost to the team's bottom six. Rasmus Dahlin, who averaged 17:46 of ice time in three games at the 4 Nations Face-Off, will look to continue his strong performance, having scored a goal and impressed teammates with his all-around play. Tage Thompson, who was summoned to Boston as a potential injury replacement, will also be a key player to watch, having scored four goals in his last five games.
The Sabres' lines from warmups indicate a strong lineup, with Thompson and Dahlin leading the team in points. Alex Tuch has also been playing well, with back-to-back three-point games and eight points in the last four games. The team's defensive partner, Bowen Byram, has found a scoring touch, totaling five points in the last three contests. The Sabres are tied for second in the NHL with 4.40 goals scored per game since January 28, and will look to continue this trend against the Rangers.
The New York Rangers have had mixed results versus the Sabres this season, with a 6-1 win on November 7 and a 3-2 loss on December 11. The Rangers' goalie, Igor Shesterkin, owns a 2.87 goals-against average and .906 save percentage this season, but has lost four of his last five games with an .835 save percentage. Artemi Panarin leads the team with 57 points, while Adam Fox ranks second on the Rangers with 44 points. The Rangers have been inconsistent, and the Sabres will look to capitalize on this, with players like Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch leading the charge.
Here are the predicted lines for the Sabres and Rangers:
- Forwards: J.J. Peterka – Jiri Kulich – Tage Thompson, Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Alex Tuch, Jordan Greenway – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn, Beck Malenstyn – Peyton Krebs – Zach Benson
- Defense: Bowen Byram – Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power – Connor Clifton, Mattias Samuelsson – Henri Jokiharju
- Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, James Reimer
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