TODAY'S GAME
The Rangers play their 20th game of the 2020-21 season and their third consecutive home game today, Mar. 2, against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET - TV: MSG+, Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). The Blueshirts have won three of their last five games (3-2-0 record) and have earned at least one point in eight of their last 13 games (6-5-2 record).
RANGERS VS. SABRES
- All-Time: 78-79-25-5 (43-31-15-3 at home; 35-48-10-2 on the road)
- 2020-21: The Rangers are playing Buffalo in the third of eight games between the two teams, and the first of four games between the two teams at MSG. The Blueshirts have posted a 1-1-0 record, and the Rangers won the last meeting between the two teams, 3-2, in overtime on Jan. 28 at Buffalo. Alexis Lafrenière, registered his first career NHL goal/point, which was the game-winning goal in overtime, on Jan. 28. Each of the two contests between New York and Buffalo has been decided by one goal. Artemi Panarin (one goal, one assist), Colin Blackwell (two assists), and Pavel Buchnevich (two assists) are tied for first among all skaters with two points in the season series. The Blueshirts have outshot the Sabres, 69-49, in the two contests. The Rangers are also scheduled to play against the Sabres on the following dates: Mar. 22 (at MSG), Apr. 1 (at Buffalo), Apr. 3 (at Buffalo), Apr. 25 (at MSG), Apr. 27 (at MSG).
- New York is playing eight games against Buffalo in one season for the first time in franchise history; prior to the 2020-21 season, the most games the Rangers had played against the Sabres in one season was six (three times, most recently in 1972-73).
- The Rangers and Sabres are in the same division for the fifth season (1970-71 - 1973-74; 2020-21) - East (1970-71 - 1973-74), MassMutual NHL East (2020-21).
- The Rangers have won eight of their last 11 games against the Sabres, dating back to Feb. 2, 2017 (8-3-0 record). In addition, the Rangers have won 17 of their last 23 games against Buffalo, dating back to Apr. 19, 2013 (17-6-0 record).
Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Sabres 03.02.21
GOALS GALORE
The Rangers tallied a single-game season-high six goals on Feb. 26 vs. Boston. Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Blueshirts have registered at least three goals in four of the last five games and in 11 of 19 games this season.
SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rangers are tied for 10th in the NHL in shots on goal per game in 2020-21 (30.9).
CLOSE CALL
Thirteen of the Rangers' last 17 games, and 13 of the team's 19 games this season, have been decided by two or fewer goals, and 10 of those contests have been decided by one goal. The Rangers' 10 one-goal games in 2020-21 are tied for the 10th-most in the NHL.
TWO GOOD
The Rangers have held their opponents to two goals or fewer in seven of the last 11 games (including two goals or fewer in regulation in eight games) and in eight of the last 13 games. The Blueshirts have allowed 2.68 goals against per game in 2020-21, which is the ninth-fewest in the NHL.
DRAW IT UP
New York ranks third in the NHL in penalties drawn this season (94) and leads the NHL in penalties drawn per 60 minutes in 2020-21 (4.88). The Rangers also rank sixth in the NHL in net penalties this season (plus-eight).
TAKE IT AWAY
The Rangers rank second in the NHL in takeaways per 60 minutes this season (7.32). Kaapo Kakko leads the NHL (min. 10 games played) in takeaways per 60 minutes of ice time (3.71) and K'Andre Miller leads NHL defensemen (min. 10 games played) in takeaways per 60 minutes of ice time (2.46) thus far in 2020-21.
MAGIC NUMBERS
Including team goals awarded for a shootout win, the Rangers have tallied three or more goals in each of their seven wins this season. The Blueshirts have allowed two or fewer goals in each of their seven wins in 2020-21.
KREID-ING HIGH
Chris Kreider has recorded a goal/point in three of the last four games (five goals, one assist), and he registered his third career NHL hat trick on Feb. 24 at Philadelphia. He is tied for sixth in the NHL in power play goals this season (five), and he leads the Rangers in goals (nine) and power play goals in 2020-21. Kreider is one of four NHL players who have registered at least nine goals and 40 hits this season (Josh Anderson, Brayden Schenn, and Brady Tkachuk).
STROME SURGE
Ryan Strome has tallied an assist/point in four of the last five games (two goals, five assists). He has recorded a point in six of the Rangers' seven wins this season, including each of the team's last six wins.
WHAT THE FOX SAYS
Adam Fox has led the Rangers in ice time in each of the last 10 games, and he ranks 12th in the NHL in average ice time this season (24:53).
LEARN THE LINGO
Ryan Lindgren has recorded an assist/point in three of the last four games (four assists). He leads the Rangers in shorthanded ice time this season (53:39) and has been on the ice for only two power play goals against. Lindgren has not been on the ice for a power play goal against in each of the last 15 games, and he has logged 42:28 of shorthanded ice time over the span (2:50 average shorthanded ice time per game); Adam Fox has also not been on the ice for a power play goal against over the span (43:19 of shorthanded ice time; 2:53 average shorthanded ice time per game). Lindgren leads NHL defensemen in penalties drawn this season (10) and also leads NHL defensemen in penalties drawn since the start of last season (35).
COLIN CARD
Colin Blackwell enters the contest with a three-game point streak (two goals, one assist) and has recorded a goal in each of the last two games. He has tallied a point in eight of 11 games with the Rangers this season (five goals, three assists).
SMITTEN WITH SMITTY
Brendan Smith enters the contest with 199 career games played as a Ranger. When he plays his 200th career game with the Rangers, he will become the 10th player in NHL history to skate in at least 200 career games each with the Rangers and Red Wings (along with Ron Duguay, Bill Gadsby, Willie Huber, Kelly Kisio, Joey Kocur, Tony Leswick, Bruce MacGregor, John Ogrodnick, and Dean Prentice). Smith leads NHL defensemen (min. five games played) in penalties drawn per 60 minutes of ice time this season (1.91), and the Rangers have posted a 6-5-1 record in games which he has played in 2020-21.
