Sabres Aim to Maintain Momentum Against Rangers Tonight

BUFFALO, New York — The Buffalo Sabres are set to return to action on Saturday against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center. This match comes after a two-week break, during which the Sabres hope to leverage their recent performances and regroup with several players back from injury.

With the regular season nearing its final stretch, the Sabres are determined to climb back into playoff contention, currently trailing by 12 points for a wild card position. “We’re ready to go,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. “I think the guys are excited to get back at it.” The puck drops at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The Rangers have been performing well, boasting an 11-5-3 record since the start of the year, putting them in a competitive playoff spot. The Sabres had found their rhythm before the break, winning four of their last five games and outscoring opponents 18-9 in that stretch.

During Friday’s practice, Ruff confirmed that Jordan Greenway, Mattias Samuelsson, and Beck Malenstyn are expected to play on Saturday. Greenway underwent surgery in December, limiting him to just 20 games this season. Samuelsson, who had a broken foot, returns after missing two games, and Malenstyn is recovering from back spasms and illness.

“He looks like he’s in a good place,” Ruff said about Malenstyn.

Buffalo’s roster highlights include leading scorers Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka, both of whom have netted four goals in the past five games. Alex Tuch has also shined, securing three points in back-to-back games, contributing to a combined tally of eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in the last four games.

On defense, Rasmus Dahlin leads the team with seven assists in five games, amassing a total of 22 assists since December 23, ranking second in the NHL during this span. His defensive companion, Bowen Byram, shows a similar streak, recording five points in the last three contests.

The Sabres are currently tied for second in the NHL, averaging 4.40 goals per game since January 28, while limiting opponents to 26.8 shots on goal per game. This combination has led them to secure eight out of a possible 10 points heading into the break.

In preparation for Saturday’s game, Ruff is poised to utilize insights gained from the recent 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, where four Sabres’ players participated. “They get to see some of the best in the world – how they prepare, the work they do, the off-ice – and I think it’ll make all those guys better players,” Ruff remarked.

As for their opponents, the Sabres have had mixed outcomes against the Rangers this season. They achieved a notable 6-1 victory at Madison Square Garden on November 7. However, they fell 3-2 in their last encounter at home, where late-game efforts were not enough to secure a win.

The Rangers will come with their starting goalie Igor Shesterkin, who is struggling lately with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage, having lost four of his last five outings. Leading the Rangers offensively is Artemi Panarin, who boasts 57 points this season.