The Sabres are fresh off a four game road trip, where they only managed to get a pair of points. On a 4 game losing streak, the Sabres are looking to get back to winning ways tonight against the Rangers at the First Niagara Center.
The Rangers sit in 8th place in the Eastern Conference, and they lead Buffalo by seven points and have two games in hand. If the Sabres have any chance of reaching the postseason, tonight’s game carries some importance, as most of them do down the stretch.
Ryan Miller was scheduled to get the start in net, but due to a sinus infection, he will sit this one out. That makes way for backup Jhonas Enroth, who had a strong game in New Jersey, but cramped up in the final minute as New Jersey knotted the game at two.
The Rangers have won five of their last six games and rallied to beat Buffalo last Sunday by a 3-2 score in a shootout. Patrick Kaleta’s boarding penalty allowed New York a long power play and they capitalized on it.
Rick Nash is in the midst of a 10 game point streak, so the Sabres will have to keep an eye on him. Meanwhile, Thomas Vanek leads both teams with 29 points.
This will be the 2nd of three meetings this season. The Rangers swept the season series last year while the Sabres only took a point out of a possible six.
A win tonight could move the Sabres up to 12th in the Conference, but a loss could have them as the worst team in the league.
Tonight’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m.