GDT: 1/26/21 7pm ET NY Rangers at Buffalo, MSG & WGR

[jsb]

     VS    

The Buffalo Sabres after a 4 game road trip come back home to face the young NY Rangers. The Rangers are led so far by Artemi Panarin and are 1-3-1 after coughing up 3rd period leads with shaky goal keeping from their young GKs. Sound familiar?? It will be interesting how HCRK sets up his forward lines, who plays, who sits and besides the Risto-McCabe duo who plays together on the backend. Both teams are looking to fatten up their point totals against each other so we'll see who moves up the standings.

 It will also be our first chance to see Alexis Lafreniere the first pick in the last draft. Right now the Bruins and the Caps look like the best teams in the division and it'll be refreshing playing someone other than the Caps and Flyers to see where this team is at. Normally playing at home would be a big advantage but with no fans in the stands, I wonder if there is an advantage playing anywhere in particular. Hopefully the Sabres can continue their winning ways at home established last year although that crash landed in their first 2 games but will they pick up the Bills mojo or do they lay an egg?. Does Dahlin continue his good play from last game, does Jack, Skinner and Hall score some goals or does their drought continue?? For those crying about the Sabres play this year, dry your eyes because I think this team will continue to improve. 

 

RANGERS at SABRES

This is the first of eight meetings between the Sabres and Rangers this season.

Last meeting: Buffalo defeated New York 3-2 in New York on Feb. 7, 2020.

Next meeting: Thursday, Jan. 28 in Buffalo

The Sabres are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games vs. the Rangers; 2-6-2 at home.

This is the 186th game all-time between Buffalo and New York; Buffalo has an 83-67-35 series record.

The Sabres are 49-29-15 at home against the Rangers all-time.

THIS DATE IN SABRES HISTORY

The Sabres are 7-10-1 all-time on January 26.

January 26, 1983: The Sabres get a goal from seven different players in a 7-3 win at home against the Montreal Canadiens.

January 26, 2006: Seven different Sabres score, led by Thomas Vanek’s two-goal night, in Buffalo’s 8-4 win at Toronto.

January 26, 2016: Jack Eichel scores twice and Robin Lehner records 34 saves and his second career assist in his return to Ottawa as the Sabres top the Senators 3-2.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

With a victory tonight, the Sabres would have wins in consecutive matchups with the Rangers for the first time since they won three in a row from April 2, 2016 to Jan. 3, 2017.

Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to play in his 500th NHL game tonight. He will become the 31st player to appear in 500 games for the Sabres and the first to do so since Drew Stafford played his 500th game with the team on March 11, 2014 vs. Nashville.

Kyle Okposo has scored at a point-per-game pace in his last 21 games against the Rangers (5+16) dating back to Dec. 20, 2013.

Eric Staal has totaled 11 points (5+6) in his eight games against the Rangers since the beginning of the 2016-17 season.

Taylor Hall has recorded 12 points (6+6) in 12 games against the Rangers dating back to the beginning of the 2015-16 season, including two four-point games during that span.

Colin Miller has five assists in his last six games against the Rangers.

TRUST THE PROCESS

According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the Sabres rank near the top of the league at 5-on-5 in several underlying statistical categories that are typically predictive of success:

Corsi percentage: 53.7% (6th)

High-danger chance percentage: 64.2% (3rd)

Expected goals percentage: 57.7% (2nd)

Through their first six games, the Sabres have led their opponents at 5-on-5 in each of these categories in every game except when they were out-attempted 51-49 by the Flyers in Buffalo’s 6-1 win on Jan. 18.

OUT OF THE BOX

Entering play Monday, the Sabres have been the least-penalized team in the NHL at 4:10 penalty minutes per game.

The Sabres (plus-13) and the Rangers (plus-9) have the top two penalty differentials in the league entering Monday’s games. So it will be interesting how the special teams do with each team obviously not committing many penalties and any power play goals being a big factor in the game.

LETS GO BUFFALO

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by jsb

[triumph_communes]

Sabres first game against a lesser opponent. Hope they play up to their standard and not down to opposition

[Scottysabres]

Anticipating the 1st line to have a breakout game here.

GO SABRES.

[bob_sauve28]

 

Quote

 

Filip Chytil has returned to New York for evaluation by team doctors and will be unavailable tomorrow vs. BUF.

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 25, 2021

OOOOOF.#LetsGoPens Evan Rodrigues hit on #NYR Filip Chytil pic.twitter.com/2xcvpWLQdL

— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) January 25, 2021

Filip Chytil will not play Tuesday vs. the Buffalo Sabres, as he returned to New York from Pittsburgh to be evaluated by team doctors.

Chytil collided with forward Evan Rodrigues during the team’s loss on Sunday, and despite returning after the hit was sidelined for the entirety of the third period. Here’s a look at the collision.

Chytil is off to a great start with a line of 2-1-3 in five games while averaging just 12:13 a game, and is among the team leaders with a 68.72 xGF%, a 62.44 CF%, and a 78.94 GF% at 5v5 per Evolving-Hockey.

Losing Chytil would be a tremendous blow to the team’s center depth with Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome collectively off to a slow start. Chytil’s looked much more effective this season —although the sample is small— and this year represents an opportunity for the young center to breakout and claim a top-six role.

 

https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2021/1/25/22248982/new-york-rangers-filip-chytil-will-not-play-vs-buffalo-sabres-being-evaluated-by-team-doctors

[bob_sauve28]

Growing belief around NHL that Jack Eichel will end up on the New York Rangers??? 

 

https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/growing-belief-around-nhl-circles-that-jack-eichel-will-be-on-the-rangers-one-day/

 

 

[LabattBlue]

The Sabres need to go 3-0-1 or 3-1 in these next 4 against the Rangers and Devils in order to get some momentum, and move up in the division.  

[Curt]

17 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Growing belief around NHL that Jack Eichel will end up on the New York Rangers??? 

 

https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/growing-belief-around-nhl-circles-that-jack-eichel-will-be-on-the-rangers-one-day/

 

Oh wow, NY sports fan site thinks that great player X wants to (I mean, come on, of course, it’s NY) and will play for NY sports team.  This is a shocking revelation.

Seriously, this is a constant with NY metro sports teams.  They think every great player secretly wants to play for their team and they expect that their team will get that player, because it’s NY.

That article is crap writing with zero new information.  Just recycled hopes and dreams from the past two years, reformatted for another round of clicks.

[Brawndo]

Hutton is good to go per Krueger 

[That Aud Smell]

C'mon, boys - big W tonight. I agree that the top line is due for some 5v5 goals.

[Taro T]

21 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

The Sabres need to go 3-0-1 or 3-1 in these next 4 against the Rangers and Devils in order to get some momentum, and move up in the division.  

As stated before, 3-0-1 puts them right back on a playoff pace.

16 minutes ago, Curt said:

Oh wow, NY sports fan site thinks that great player X wants to (I mean, come on, of course, it’s NY) and will play for NY sports team.  This is a shocking revelation.

Seriously, this is a constant with NY metro sports teams.  They think every great player secretly wants to play for their team and they expect that their team will get that player, because it’s NY.

That article is crap writing with zero new information.  Just recycled hopes and dreams from the past two years, reformatted for another round of clicks.

 

Naturally, the kid from Baastan has always dreamed of being a Blue Shirt.  (Really need an eye roll smiley again.)

[Sabres Fan in NS]

As always, but even more against a very beatable Ranger team ...

MUST WIN!!

GO SABRES!!

[French Collection]

I like them playing with grit but being the least penalized team has its advantages. 
I hope Dahlin builds on the confidence he showed last game and picks up a point of two.

Let’s go Buffalo!

[nucci]

3 hours ago, triumph_communes said:

Sabres first game against a lesser opponent. Hope they play up to their standard and not down to opposition

what's our standard?

[dudacek]

The New York arrogance has been particularly smug during the pause.

The idea that Eichel is sick of playing for a bad team and will want to come to the Rangers has one big flaw: the Rangers aren't good.

Stepping on their heads as we climb the ladder is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Edited January 26, 2021 by dudacek

[Zamboni]

Staying optimistic ...

Sabres 4

Rangers 2

Eichel, Hall or Joker with a goal

 

[Mustache of God]

I have a feeling this is the game where our 5v5 offense clicks in the top 6 and we get a few bounces and finally start burying some chances. 

[Doohicksie]

2 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Growing belief around NHL that Jack Eichel will end up on the New York Rangers??? 

 

https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/growing-belief-around-nhl-circles-that-jack-eichel-will-be-on-the-rangers-one-day/

 

 

Wishful thinking

[JohnC]

I predict Skinner will score a goal and his teammates will mob him. 🤡

[LTS]

Well.. totally forgot there was a game tonight. So busy with work I barely have time to care these days.

Go Sabres and all that.

 

[jsb]

 

[LGR4GM]

 

[inkman]

1 hour ago, nucci said:

what's our standard?

*checks notes* 

 

Not sucking I believe is the current standard. 

[Mustache of God]

Aiming to win the Presidents Trophy of Moral Victories and drafting 7-9 overall. That is the Buffalo Sabres Standard.

[JohnC]

Coach Krueger was on WGR with Howard and Jeremy. This is an approximately 13 min segment. No great revelations but Krueger being Krueger. 

Howard And Jeremy | RADIO.COM

[Getpucksdeep]

43 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

 

Where is the Joker?