The Dominator Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 (edited) (ESPN) BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres are both looking to get back on track following particularly disappointing outings on Tuesday night. On Thursday, the teams will meet at 7:30 p.m. in Buffalo in a nationally televised game. The Sabres (20-20-9) went into the All-Star break in the midst of one of their best stretches of the season. Following three straight overtime wins and a hard-luck 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars -- in which the Sabres saw two potential third-period goals disallowed in controversial fashion -- the Sabres were thinking they were well on their way toward a late-season playoff push. Buffalo's first game out of the All-Star break, however, carried none of that momentum forward. The Sabres fell to Montreal 5-2 in a defeat that saw the Canadiens jump out to a 5-0 lead before surrendering two goals late in the third period to avoid the shutout. Max Pacioretty had a hat trick for Montreal. "It's one game," Sabres center Jack Eichel said, according to the team's website. "It's a tough one but what are you going to do about it now? We ... play another game on Thursday so I think we put it behind us. We obviously know we didn't play well. I think it'll be important for us to go back to the drawing board, forget about this one, put it behind us. We know the way we have to play as a team to be successful." Dmitry Kulikov and Brian Gionta scored for Buffalo. "It wasn't as if it was 19 chances to zero," Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma said via the team's website. "We had plenty of opportunities, but we played into their speed game. They played a fast game, we handed them the puck and they capitalized on a lot of the chances they had." The Rangers (31-18-1), meanwhile, can draw some inspiration from their attempted comeback against Columbus on Tuesday night. Like the Sabres, however, they fell into big hole that was ultimately too much to overcome. New York was facing a 6-0 deficit after surrendering four goals in the second period but did score four goals in the third in the 6-4 loss. "We have to understand it's such a big learning moment for us," Rangers center Derek Stepan told the team's website. "Teams are just too good to take a 10-minute stretch like that. You're going to get killed every time. We've got to stop doing that ... They made us pay in that 10 minutes." Stepan is tied for the team lead in points with 38 (12 goals, 26 assists) alongside Mats Zuccarello (9 goals, 29 assists). Thursday will be the third and final game between the two teams this season. Despite the difference in the standings, the Sabres won each of the previous two meetings. Buffalo picked up a 4-3 home win against New York on Dec. 1 and a 4-1 road win to open up the new year on Jan. 3. Edited February 2, 2017 by spndnchz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Let's see if the Sabres can improve on that abomination the other night. The Rangers have had a bit of a schizophrenic 2017 so far. They started by losing to the Sabres in NYC, then won 2, lost 3, won 3, and have lost their last 2. They are 2nd in the NHL in scoring, 13th in defense, 14th in PP, 15th in PK. It's an NBCSN game, so no RJ. Also -- if someone wants to post the line combos from dailiyfaceoff.com, please do so -- I can't seem to figure out how to do so. http://www2.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/lines/32/new-york-rangers Game on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3putt Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Nice write up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sauve28 Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Hopefully Bogo can improve on his -5 game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Winnable matchup. I'll probably watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustache of God Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Let's see if the Sabres can improve on that abomination the other night. The Rangers have had a bit of a schizophrenic 2017 so far. They started by losing to the Sabres in NYC, then won 2, lost 3, won 3, and have lost their last 2. They are 2nd in the NHL in scoring, 13th in defense, 14th in PP, 15th in PK. It's an NBCSN game, so no RJ. Also -- if someone wants to post the line combos from dailiyfaceoff.com, please do so -- I can't seem to figure out how to do so. http://www2.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/lines/32/new-york-rangers Game on! RJ is on vacation until March. We're stuck with DD for the next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabres Fan in NS Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Beat these guys. That's all. GO SABRES!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spndnchz Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Nice write up. Not be a debbie downer but at least a link is needed. (Link) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Not be a debbie downer but at least a link is needed. (Link) Nah, plagiarism is all the rage these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brawndo Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Ennis to the fourth line with Carrier. D Lo in, COR out. D Lo will have limited time as Eichel and ROR will double shift on the fourth line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Well this game just became entirely unwatchable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brawndo Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Lehner in net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsixspd Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Hopefully Bogo can improve on his -5 game LOL - it's hard to imagine he could repeat such an awful performance. He can ONLY improve - I hope. Lehner in net Does he surrender 2 goals or 3? Or more? He's only had one 1-goal game since November, I believe. And shutouts? Fuggedaboutit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brawndo Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Carrier and Ennis will take draws, Eichel and ROR will be on for defensive zone starts when possible. DD on trying DLo at center for the first time The Sabres have practiced with him at center before, & Bylsma cited his history as a D-man as translating to him being comfortable down low. Sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohickie Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 We've found our new Grant. He was here all along. :sick: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dominator Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Not be a debbie downer but at least a link is needed. (Link) Nah, plagiarism is all the rage these days. I put (ESPN) in front of the story. Didn't claim it to be my work, although a link would have been more effective than simply writing the name of the source I found it on. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi2000 Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'll watch, but have low expectations. Lehner's rebound control has got to be the worst I've ever seen at the NHL level. The 4th line should only play one shift a period at most. Ennis still looks concussed. Foligno has disappeared. 1 point and a -6 in his last 10. 0 points in his last 9 games. Risto, 1 point in his last 9 games. For whatever reason, O'Reilly's production has dropped... 0 points, total of 4 SOG the last 3 games. Put Kane and Gionta with Eichel on the top line. Reinhart, O'Reilly, Okposo on the second line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Aud Smell Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 We match up pretty well with this team. I expect a MUCH better effort than Tuesday. Let's Go, Buffalo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohickie Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 I'll watch, but have low expectations. Lehner's rebound control has got to be the worst I've ever seen at the NHL level. The 4th line should only play one shift a period at most. Ennis still looks concussed. Foligno has disappeared. 1 point and a -6 in his last 10. 0 points in his last 9 games. Risto, 1 point in his last 9 games. For whatever reason, O'Reilly's production has dropped... 0 points, total of 4 SOG the last 3 games. The phrase "firing on all cylinders" comes to mind. When you say that, it doesn't mean everyone is scoring every game, but rather each is pitching in regularly so the overall performance of the team and be consistently good. Right now, about the only cylinders firing are Gionta and maybe Kane. Time for the rest to step it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 I put (ESPN) in front of the story. Didn't claim it to be my work, although a link would have been more effective than simply writing the name of the source I found it on. Oh well. Twas a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_sauve28 Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 We've found our new Grant. He was here all along. :sick: ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mig22 Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 COR waived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallawaySabres Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Pull within 5 of 8th with a win (and games in hand), closer to securing that top 3 pick with a loss.......which way will they go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustache of God Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Pull within 5 of 8th with a win (and games in hand), closer to securing that top 3 pick with a loss.......which way will they go? Just when you think this team is out they'll put together a few wins to stay in it, only to lose a few to stay not so in it. Based on recent history I'm expecting a win here. Looking ahead at the schedule for the month...we have 9 out of 13 games against the West (who we've played well against). My bold prediction is by the end of the month we'll still be ~5 points back. I'd like to see Hank pulled, again. Let's do it boys! I'm also hungry to see a hat trick from any one on this team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dominator Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 (edited) Twas a joke. Eh, I felt kind of bad after someone seemingly gave me credit for the write-up. Just figured I should address it Edited February 2, 2017 by TheDominator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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