Rangers at Sabres preview

RANGERS (24-24-8) at SABRES (28-21-7)
7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS, MSG-B, MSG, NHL.TV

Buffalo is 0-7-2 in nine tries since last winning two in a row. They've alternated wins and losses in their past six games and are 3-1-1 in their past five.
Goalie
Alexandar Georgiev
will start for the Rangers, who are 3-4-1 in their past eight after winning four of their previous five games. New York has won five of its past six games against Buffalo.

Players to watch

Rangers center Mika Zibanejad has eight goals in his past seven games and 21 points (13 goals, eight assists) in his past 13.
Sabres center Jack Eichel has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past 10 games, including eight points (two goals, six assists) in a six-game point streak.

They said it

"I'm definitely trying not to pass up any opportunities I have. They're going in right now so I don't see a reason not to shoot." -- Rangers center Mika Zibanejad
"I feel like we've got to take care of our own net first. That's how you win games. The last few games I think we've played better defensively. With our guys, we're going to get our chances offensively." -- Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen

Rangers projected lineup

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey -- Kevin Hayes -- Pavel Buchnevich
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Ryan Strome -- Jesper Fast
Filip Chytil --
Boo Nieves
--
Connor Brickley
Brady Skjei -- Adam McQuaid
Marc Staal -- Neal Pionk
Brendan Smith -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Alexandar Georgiev
Henrik Lundqvist
Scratched:Tony DeAngelo
Injured: Brett Howden (MCL sprain), Fredrik Claesson (shoulder)

Sabres projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Jack Eichel -- Jason Pominville
Conor Sheary -- Evan Rodrigues -- Sam Reinhart
C.J. Smith
-- Vladimir Sobotka -- Tage Thompson
Zemgus Girgensons -- Johan Larsson -- Kyle Okposo
Marco Scandella -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin -- Zach Bogosian
Lawrence Pilut -- Jake McCabe
Linus Ullmark
Carter Hutton
Scratched: Nathan Beaulieu, Matt Hunwick
Injured:Casey Mittelstadt (lower body)

Status report

The Rangers did not hold a morning skate. … Bogosian will play after missing two games with a lower-body injury. … Mittelstadt will miss his second straight game.

Stat pack

Zuccarello has four assists in his past two games and 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in his past 12. … The Rangers are 10-for-30 (33.3 percent) on the power play in their past 11 games. … Sheary has three goals in two games against the Rangers this season. … The Sabres have allowed five goals in three games after giving up in 17 in their three previous games. … New York has scored at least three goals in five of its past seven games.