Rangers at Sabres preview

RANGERS (0-1-0) at SABRES (0-1-0)
7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, MSG, NHL.TV

The Game

Jack Eichel will face his former coach at Boston University, David Quinn, when the Buffalo Sabres host the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center on Saturday.
Quinn coached Eichel for the Sabres center's only season at BU in 2014-15, and the two have kept in touch through Eichel's first three seasons in the NHL.
Buffalo and New York each is looking for its first win this season; the Sabres seek their first goal after being shut out 4-0 by the Boston Bruins in their season opener Thursday.
The Rangers are playing the first game of a back-to-back; they play at the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.

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Players to watch

Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad has at least one point in 10 of his past 13 games against the Sabres. His 12 assists against Buffalo are the most he has against any NHL opponent.
Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton, who will start, is 3-0-0 against the Rangers with a 1.45 goals-against average and .953 save percentage.

They said it

"I didn't think we were as decisive on our forecheck as we were throughout the preseason. … Obviously it's regular season so the pace is different but too often we were waiting to skate instead of skating. We've got to manage the puck better and we've got to be more decisive on our forechecks so we're not giving up odd-man rushes." -- Rangers coach David Quinn
"He's a friend to me, he's a mentor, and he's been pretty close to me even through my first few years in the NHL, and he was so good to me at BU. We have such a good relationship. … It's great that he had the opportunity and it's so cool that he's able to coach the Rangers, it's such a storied franchise. I'm just so happy for him. I think he'll do great. He can win all the games he wants except for when he plays us." -- Sabres center Jack Eichel on Rangers coach David Quinn

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Pavel Buchnevich
Jimmy Vesey -- Kevin Hayes -- Mats Zuccarello
Ryan Spooner -- Filip Chytil -- Jesper Fast
Cody McLeod -- Brett Howden -- Vinni Lettieri
Brady Skjei -- Adam McQuaid
Brendan Smith -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Marc Staal -- Neal Pionk
Henrik Lundqvist
Alexandar Georgiev
Scratched: Tony DeAngelo, Fredrik Claesson, Vladislav Namestnikov
Injured: Matt Beleskey (separated shoulder), Boo Nieves (concussion)

Sabres projected lineup

Conor Sheary -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart
Jeff Skinner -- Patrik Berglund -- Kyle Okposo
Zemgus Girgensons -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Tage Thompson
Remi Elie -- Evan Rodrigues -- Jason Pominville
Marco Scandella -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Jake McCabe -- Rasmus Dahlin
Nathan Beaulieu -- Casey Nelson
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
Scratched:Matt Tennyson
Injured: Vladimir Sobotka (upper body), Scott Wilson (ankle), Johan Larsson (foot), Sean Malone (knee), Zach Bogosian (lower body), Matt Hunwick (neck)

Status report

The Sabres didn't have a morning skate; the Rangers had an optional skate. … Buffalo coach Phil Housley said Sobotka is day to day after sustaining an upper-body injury against the Bruins. … McLeod will make his season debut.

Stat pack

Spooner has at least one point in each of his past five games against Buffalo (three goals, three assists). … Pominville needs four points for 700 in his NHL career.