Three New York Rangers to Watch Against the Buffalo Sabres

The New York Rangers have had a few days off after their Sunday win against the New York Islanders, but they return to action tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. Tonight's matchup is the final macthup of a three-game homestand, as New York looks to sweep the last week at Madison Square Garden.

Tonight's matchup is against a Buffalo Sabres squad who is not off to a good start level to expectations. Under first-year head coach Lindy Ruff, Buffalo is off to a 5-7-2 start even with a lineup that it considers to be its best in years. The last time the Sabres made the playoffs was the 2010-2011 season, the longest in the NHL.

While there is a lot of time left, Buffalo is looking to flip the script as the Rangers look for their third win in a row. Here's three Blueshirts to watch:

1. Vincent Trocheck

On Sunday against the Islanders, Trocheck scored his 200th goal of his NHL career. This was his first goal since October 17 against Detroit.

Assuming Peter Laviolette goes with the same lines tonight, Trocheck will be centering Reilly Smith and Will Cuylle, and he will have to be the main offensive contributor. Not to disresepect Cuylle and Smith - both who are off to good starts to the season - but they are not Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, New York's top two scorers so far.

Cuylle-Trocheck-Smith can be a line that consistently produces offensively, and a lot of that falls on Trocheck.

2. Adam Fox

Fox has only one point in his last four games and has nine in the first 11 games of the season. He had a point against the Islanders to break his three-game point drought.

Defensively, Fox has had a fine start to the season, posting a +3 rating, but has not been as consistent as a scorer as he's been the past few years of his career. That'll change as the season goes on.

3. Igor Shesterkin

He's been on this the past few, but after totaling over 35 saves in each of his last three games, Shesterkin needs to be on the list. The Sabres beat Ottawa 5-1 in their last contest and will get shots off on Shesterkin.

New York cannot rely on Shesterkin the way they have for the past week, but right now there's no better backstop in the NHL.