Blue Line Station
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New York Rangers look to keep the fun going vs Buffalo

By Joseph Gucciardo

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 24: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers looks on during a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 24: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers looks on during a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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After an exciting — and unexpected — 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the New York Rangers host the Buffalo Sabres in their 51st game of the regular season.

Shocking is a great word to describe it.  The New York Rangers, who sit seventh in the Metropolitan Division, managed a 5-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on home ice in their last contest, beating a team that most would have bet against them on.

You can mainly thank Igor Shesterkin‘s 30 saves for that.

“He’s not a 20-year-old guy out of college or junior hockey,” head coach David Quinn said after the win. “He’s proven to be a great pro over in the American (Hockey) League, and he’s just been a great pro for us.”

The Rangers will now look to Henrik Lundqvist, as he is expected to face Carter Hutton and the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.

At home, the Rangers are 15-11-2 this season. while Buffalo is 8-14-4 when away from the KeyBank Center.

About the Sabres

Buffalo comes to MSG riding a two-game losing streak, posting a 23-23-8 record and sitting sixth in the Atlantic Division. In their last contest, they fell to the NHL-worst Detroit Red Wings, 4-3, in a shootout on Thursday night.  Their fans are near rebellion as they have lost five out of their last six games.

There is no doubt who has powered Buffalo this season, and it’s captain Jack Eichel. The second-overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft has posted 31 goals and 35 assists (66 points) for the Sabres through their first 54 games of 2019-20.

Sam Reinhart (19-25—44) and Rasmus Dahlin (3-27—30) have also played big offensive roles for the Sabres this season.

Buffalo is averaging 2.83 goals per-game on 29.2 shots per-game. They have lost seven of their last ten (3-5-2) contests vs. the Rangers.

About the Rangers

The Rangers are averaging 3.29 goals per-game on 30.6 shots per-game. They are 7-3-0 in their last ten contests vs. the Sabres.

Alexandar Georgiev, who was expected to the start against Toronto, will be between the pipes tonight.  In his last appearance, he came in to relieve Henrik Lundqvist in the third period of a 5-3 loss, allowing one goal on six shots. It will be his first start in 17 days due to the long break for the Rangers in January.

The usual scoring suspects of Mika Zibanejad (21-24—45), Ryan Strome (12-32-44), and Anthony DeAngelo (12-29—49) have lifted the Rangers this season as well. But as per usual, Artemi Panarin has been lights out on Broadway, posting one goal and two assists (three points) in his last five contests.

On the season, Panarin has totaled 27 goals and 44 assists (71 points).

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