Rangers vs. Sabres: 3 things to look for seeking payback, end to slump
The last time the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres played against one another, the Blueshirts were hammered 6-1 at Madison Square Garden. Though they’d go on to win four of their next five games, the Rangers offered a glimpse in that game against the Sabres about who they are this season and what was to come.
Since that Nov. 7 contest, the Rangers are 6-9-0. Remember that includes winning four of five, which gets you to their current stretch — losing eight of their past 10 games.
In that loss to the Sabres, the Rangers looked slow, sloppy, and not overly engaged. Sound familiar? They also got a rare off night from Igor Shesterkin, who was pulled midway through the loss and will seek some retribution in the return match.
Wednesday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, the Rangers (14-12-1) will attempt (again) to change those narratives, when they visit the Sabres. The Rangers come off two straight losses — a lackluster 2-1 defeat at the hands of the cellar-dwelling Chicago Blackhawks, which was preceded by a blown two-goal lead in a 7-5 loss to the Seattle Kraken.
Perhaps they are catching the Sabres at the right time. The Sabres (11-13-4) have their own troubles; they are trying to end a seven-game skid (0-4-3) that has them tied for fifth with two other teams in the Atlantic Division, one point out of last place. They blew a two-goal lead in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday and lost 6-5 in a shootout.
Likewise, the Rangers are fifth in their division, the Metropolitan, only two points ahead of the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets.
Related: Rangers shocking slump drops them back into wild-card hunt
3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Sabres
1. Use those legs
It’s time for the Rangers to use their legs to power through the neutral zone, help win puck battles and, most importantly, put the Sabres back on their heels. Take the game to the Sabres. Outwork them. Outskate them. Certainly the Rangers have more skill, so they need to get to their game early and don’t let up.
The Rangers started pretty well against the Blackhawks, but then simply stopped playing. They didn’t get to their game in the final 40 minutes, generating nothing off the rush. They weren’t skating, and it cost them.
By moving their legs more, the Rangers could also force the Sabres into taking penalties. Buffalo is the fourth-most penalized team in the NHL. Their PK (80.9 percent) is decent, but the Rangers are always most dangerous when their power play is out there often in a game.
2. Looking to 10 – 16 – 13
Artemi Panarin had his four-game point streak end Monday, but has played well recently and his linemates, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere, have appeared revived, as well. That could spell trouble for Buffalo.
Panarin has 14 goals and 36 points in 29 career games against the Sabres. Lafreniere has six goals and 10 points in 18 games against them. Digging for any positives they can find, this should be an opportunity for the Rangers to exploit their hosts Wednesday.
Trocheck’s numbers aren’t great against the Sabres (four goals, 13 points in 31 games) but he’s been the Rangers’ hottest scorer of late with four goals and seven points in his past six games.
3. Cage Tage
The Sabres don’t have a lot of firepower offensively, and they’ll have even less now with star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin out with a back injury. But Tage Thompson is a scoring threat every time he’s on the ice. The star forward can be notoriously streaky, but he’s heating up with four goals in his past four games.
A 47-goal scorer in 2022-23, Thompson leads the Sabres and is tied for 10th in the NHL with 15 goals this season. Thirteen of those goals are at even strength, including one against the Rangers in their previous meeting Nov. 7. However, he only has three goals in 17 games against the Rangers.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
Cuylle – Chytil – Kakko
Edstrom – Carrick – Berard
Lindgren – Fox
Miller- Schneider
Jones – Mancini
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Sabres: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres
When: Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: KeyBank Center
How to watch: TNT
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results
More About:New York Rangers News
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