Game 2
Buffalo Sabres (0-1-0) vs New York Rangers (0-1-0)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
SB Nation Rangers Blog: Blueshirt Banter
Know Your Opponent
New York Rangers
Record: (0-1-0) | 0 PTS
Last 10: 0-1-0
Division Ranking: 8th in the Metropolitan
Conference Ranking: 15th in the Eastern Conference
PP: 22nd
PK: 3rd
What to Watch
1. Shuffling the Lines
Unsurprisingly, Phil Housley has elected to shuffle his forward lines after just one game. As has been the case throughout his short tenure with the team, he felt the need to re-concoct his lines mid-game on Thursday. It remains to be seen how well the current configuration will fare, but Housley’s penchant for re-assembling his lineup on a game-by-game basis has grown tiresome with the fan base.
2. Team Response
One of two Sabres teams will take to the ice tonight. Fans will either be treated to a re-invigorated squad who plan to set the tone early, or the same out-of-sync, uninspired Buffalo side we’ve seen for years. Housley stated that his team would not “go through this again,” referring to last season’s struggles. Time will tell if that’s truly the case.
3. Boo Birds
After just one period of lackluster play on Thursday, the fans at KeyBank Center voiced their frustration as the Sabres were booed off the ice. That trend continued throughout the contest. Fans are frustrated, and rightfully so. The team needs to put a better product on the ice after nearly a decade of losing. If they fail to do so in short order, the Sabres could be in for another season with an unenthusiastic home crowd.
Projected Lineup
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Conor Sheary- Jack Eichel – Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner – Patrik Berglund – Kyle Okposo
Zemgus Girgensons – Casey Mittelstadt – Tage Thompson
Remi Elie – Evan Rodrigues – Jason Pominville
Defense
Marco Scandella- Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe – Rasmus Dahlin
Nathan Beaulieu – Casey Nelson
Starting Goaltender: Carter Hutton
New York Rangers
Forwards
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey – Kevin Hayes – Mats Zuccarello
Ryan Spooner – Filip Chytil – Jesper Fast
Vladislav Namestnikov – Brett Howden – Vinni Lettieri
Defense
Brady Skjei – Adam McQuaid
Brendan Smith – Kevin Shattenkirk
Marc Staal – Neal Pionk
Starting Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist