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Game Preview: New York Rangers look to halt skid in Buffalo

By Jason Katinas

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Nathan Bastian #42 of the New Jersey Devils sends a shot wide of Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Nathan Bastian #42 of the New Jersey Devils sends a shot wide of Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 07: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres misses an empty net against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden on February 07, 2020 in New York City. The Sabres defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 07: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres misses an empty net against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden on February 07, 2020 in New York City. The Sabres defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Keys to the game

Here are the three points of focus for the New York Rangers look to stop the losing streak at three.

  1. Win the match-up battles – Until the Rangers top players get out of the early season funk they are in, the team will not win at a wide open hockey game. Instead they need to focus on keeping the Sabres top players off the scoresheet, while the Rangers superior depth production outscored theirs.
  2. Continue to play disciplined hockey – The Rangers did a good job at this last game versus the Penguins and must do so again tonight. There is no room for bad and/or dumb penalties against a team operating a power play with a 27.27% conversion rate.
  3. Get shots on goal – Sabres goaltenders have not been heavily tested this season, facing more than 30 shots in only two of their six games.

Scores

There were no East Division games played last night.

Tonight’s games

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins   7pm
Philadelphia Flyers vs New Jersey Devils    7pm
New York Islanders vs Washington Capitals   7pm

Standings

  1.  Washington    6   3-0-3     9 pts
  2.  Pittsburgh       6   4-2-0     8 pts
  3.  New Jersey     5   3-1-1     7 pts
  4.  Boston             5  3-1-1      7 pts
  5.  Philadelphia   6  3-2-1      7 pts
  6.  Islanders         5  3-2-0      6 pts
  7.  Buffalo             6  2-3-1      5 pts
  8.  Rangers           5  1-3-1      3 pts

About the game

Puck drop is at 7pm

The game will be televised on the MSG Network with the pre-game show at 6:30pm. The game will be radiocast on WEPN 1050AM.

Don’t forget to join Blue Line Station’s live conversation during the game.  The live thread should be up just before gametime.

Lets Go Rangers!!!

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