Buffalo Sabres-New York Rangers Preview: Will the Real Contender Please Stand Up

Each and every game in the NHL's eighty-two game season counts the same two points for victory.  But Friday night's upcoming game between the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers is arguably worth much, much more.  It is a pivotal game for both teams.

The Sabres came out of the gate in October hot, going 8-3-3 in the first month of the season.  Slowed by a combination of injuries and lackadaisical play, they cooled off in the second month, with a record of 6-9-0.  They appeared to have righted the ship in going 6-4-2 over the last month, and winning their last three games.

The Rangers also started the season on a hot streak, going 10-4-1.  They continued playing winning hockey in November and early December with an 8-5-1 record.  Over the last month they have cooled off to 6-6-1 and have lost five of their last seven games.

After Lindy Ruff threatened his Buffalo squad with a shake-up following a dismal 5-3 loss to the Devils on December 17th in which they were totally outworked, the Sabre players have skated with greater intensity.  They have simplified their style, forechecked harder, paid the price in front of the net, and taken better care of the puck.

At the same time, the Sabres have been getting healthier.  Physical forward Paul Gaustad returned to the line-up first.  Captain Craig Rivet, their grittiest defender, came back last game after an 11 game absence.  Friday night, Tim Connolly, their best playmaker, returns since being sidelined with a broken rib since November 12th.

While the Sabres have been turning things around, the Rangers have been going in reverse.  Their big lead in their division has vanished.  Brandon Dubinsky, who had four goals in the first 10 games and looked unstoppable, has only two in the next 37!  Nikolai Zherdev hasn't scored in six games, tying his longest scoring drought of the season.  

Most importantly, All-Star goalie "King" Henrik Lundquist has been less than regal of late, and at least two of the six goals the Canadiens scored against him in the Rangers last loss were the direct result of Lundquist's gaffes.

And so the Rangers will come into Buffalo's HSBC Arena on Friday night hungry for a win.  They will be seeking revenge for their 3-1 loss to the Sabres early in the season at Madison Square garden.  And they will bring with the former Sabre and current Ranger Captain Chris Drury, who is sure to hear a few less than complimentary cheers from his old fans.

The Sabres will be equally energized, eager to prove their three game win streak is the real deal.  It will be interesting to see if Connolly can fit back into the offense on such a big stage in his first game back.  

Tony Lydman will return from missing the last game with the flu, which means defenseman Chris Butler will probably be sent back to Portland.  You would think the veteran Lydman would be an upgrade over the rookie, but has it been a coincidence that the Sabres began playing better when Butler came up for his first taste of the NHL on December 18th?

Those are some big questions, but the feeling here is that the "new and improved" Sabres, looking to make a statement on home ice in front of their fans, will show up and win this game.