Game #80
Buffalo Sabres (21-49-9) at New York Rangers (44-31-5)
TV – MSG, Bell-TV | Radio – WGR 550 – AM
SB Nation Rangers Blog – Blueshirt Banter
Three Questions
1. Can Drew Stafford pick up where he left off?
Stafford has been Buffalo’s best scorer over the second half of the season. With his return from injury, can he net a few more goals in the last three games to make us all feel a little better about next year?
2. Just how many shots will the Rangers have tonight?
New York is the top team in the Eastern Conference and third best in the NHL in terms of shots per game with 33.1. The Sabres are the third worst team in the NHL in shots against per game at 34.6. Can Matt Hackett handle 40+ shots?
3. With all the players returning from injury over the past two games, who (if anyone) will find their game the fastest?
Marcus Foligno, Chris Stewart, Zenon Konopka, Drew Stafford, and Torrey Mitchell have all come back from injury in the past week. Can any of these guys, especially Stewart, Foligno and Stafford, find their game quickly enough to make a difference against one of the East’s best teams?
Projected BUF lines
Stewart – Ennis – Stafford
Hodgson – Girgensons – Mitchell
Foligno – Flynn – D’Agostini
Ellis – Konopka – Leino
Ehrhoff – Ristolainen
Weber – McBain
McCabe – Ruhwedel
Goal: Matt Hackett
Scratches/Injuries: Conacher, Tallinder, Myers, Sulzer, Enroth, Neuvirth, Liewuen