Friday, February 15, 2008

Rangers vs. Sabres Preview


Today the New York Rangers (28-24-7) host the Buffalo Sabres (28-21-8) in a matinee at the Garden. Henrik Lundqvist, who agreed to a six-year deal on Thursday worth $41.25 million, won a season-high four straight starts in mid-November, but hasn't put together more than two consecutive wins since then. He's also been tagged for a total of eight goals in his last two games, home losses to Los Angeles and Anaheim on Feb. 5 and 7, respectively. The Rangers are tied with Boston for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot, and have lost three of four including a 3-2 overtime defeat to Washington on Sunday. The Sabres, meanwhile, have gone 8-0-2 in their last 10 games to move from 14th in the East to seventh. In his last 10 starts, Miller is 8-0-1 and has allowed just 15 goals for a 1.53 GAA. Despite losing to the Rangers last month, Ryan Miller is 5-1-1 with a 2.38 GAA in seven career starts against them. Jason Pominville, who scored for Buffalo in the loss to the Rangers last month, had his nine-game point streak snapped Wednesday. He has 16 goals and 35 assists for a team-high 51 points. Buffalo is 5-1-1 in its last seven visits to New York City. For a full preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

...the last time we saw Buffalo at MSG they were losing 10 in a row, now they come in not losing in regulation in 10 games. I think we're going to see a much different Sabres team this time around.

...with the Sabres sitting in seventh place, one point ahead of the Rangers with two games in hand, its safe to say this is as close to a must win as you can get.

...according to Steve Zipay at Blue Notes, it appears Prucha (shoulder), Staal (flu) and Hossa (back) are out. And I was all excited about Hollweg sitting in the press box.

...Zipay also reports that Renney hasn't committed to starting Lundqvist in both games this weekend, so we might see Valiquette on Sunday against the Sharks.

...Renney juggled the lines this week as well as the power play units (take a seat Tyutin). Hopefully he's made the right moves as this team can't afford to wait a week for these lines to gel.

...not sure if I'll have an update before the game. If not I'll have a recap after.

3 comments:

bpette02 said...

I have no confidence in our coach. I also have no confidence that the guy I;m suppose to go to the game with today is gonna show. I don't care who's hurt, if Hollweg is in the lineup then our coach should be shot. And all you Renney lovers out there, since his first year he has under achieved, big time. We should've beaten Buffalo last year , but our guy Tom messed up!

Anonymous said...

More evidence by bpette, that you should never drink and blog.

bpette02 said...

Amen!