Buffalo Needs Another Win, Strong Finish with a Shot at the Top

Buffalo Sabres (47-23-8) at New York Rangers (33-36-9)

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM | Madison Square Garden | New York, New York

TV: TNT, HBO Max, MSG

Radio: WGR 550

Know Your Opponent

New York Rangers

Record: 33-36-9 | 75 PTS

Division Ranking: 8th in the Metropolitan Division

Last Game: Beat the Caps 8-1

PP: 4th (24.9%) | Sabres 18th (20.4%)

PK: 16th (79.3%) | Sabres 5th (82.0%)

What to Watch

1. From Riches to Rags

Buffalo has played a slew of games against playoff teams recently and those right on the cusp. Desperate clubs fighting for their post season lives. Tonight, the Sabres draw the Rangers on the road at Madison Square Garden, a team long out of the race. New York looks to have a top 5 pick in the draft this summer in Buffalo. But nothing can be taken for granted right now, every point matters as the Sabres jockey for position with Tampa and Montreal. The Rangers just layeth the smacketh down on Washington by an 8-1 score the other night. Yes, the same Caps team that just did a number on Buffalo. Nobody should be taken lightly, ever.

2. If You are a Goal Scorer, Scores Some Goals!

There is little doubt that the Sabres need more offense out of several forwards right now. I could name four or five easy but I will focus on three in particular. Josh Doan is the first but Josh Norris and Ryan McLeod should be noted particularly. This trio each had a point against Tampa in Buffalo’s big win on Monday night but the overall struggles still hold true. In their last 11 games, Doan has just two goals. Norris has just two himself (one against the Lightning) and McLeod has NONE. In fact, Ryan has just two points overall in that 11 game stretch. All three players are struggling offensively and Buffalo will need more out of them starting RIGHT NOW. It’s been frustrating for sure but they do contribute in so many other ways. Doan, Norris and McLeod all play a sound defensive game and forecheck/backcheck hard. Nobody is questioning their work ethic. But it’s no coincidence that the Sabres recent slide of 2-3-2 coincided with their offensive struggles. They need to get going in these final four games and must contribute in the playoffs as well. Hopefully the Tampa game was just a start of a bounce back for these three.

Oct 30, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Josh Doan (91) reacts with center Ryan McLeod (71) after scoring a goal during the third period against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

3. Power Play Dark Cloud

After going 2 for 4 with the man advantage against the Islanders 4 games ago, Buffalo has gone 0 for 11 since. That’s what the Sabres seem to do. They pop off for one good game on the power play then go long stretches of looking absolutely dreadful. That is what keeps them afloat in the power play rankings. They have been hovering around 15th in the NHL, which sounds decent enough until you regularly have to watch it. They truly are ghastly at times to the naked eye. Zone entries, maintaining possession and overpassing have all been a problem. Buffalo turns it over and must regroup too often. They don’t have traffic in front of the net either which makes them either not shoot or makes shooting pointless. At times, it feels like they are just going through the motions of having a man advantage. They should be digging in, working hard and playing smart while using it as a tool to help decide a hockey game. Inexplicably, the Sabres often win despite any power play success (Tampa) or blow 5 opportunities in a game (Washington) while give up a shortie too in a big loss.

This recent stretch of going 0 for 11 has dropped the team to 18th in the NHL on the power play. They are in the bottom half of the league now where the eye test says they belong. A new approach might be needed here, either with different personnel or a new philosophy. It’s the one proven problem area that can drag this team down. It also opens the door for other teams to take liberties with our players, knowing it probably won’t cost them on the scoreboard. Let us hope the Sabres cash in tonight against the Rangers (and moving forward into the playoffs) with the man advantage in another big win.

The Latest:

Last night the Lightning lost their game in Ottawa (yay!) but Montreal capped off a late comeback against Florida. (boo!) So along with Buffalo, all three teams sit at 102 points with four games left for each. Insanity, I tell you! The good news? Montreal and Tampa play each other, so somebody is not getting a win. (and hopefully no loser point either) Montreal is probably the hottest team of the trio and Tampa is stumbling a bit. I would estimate the Sabres as somewhere in between, though not far removed from their own struggles. The division title is on the line here along with home ice advantage between the teams that finish 2 and 3 in the Atlantic. (stupid NHL) Over the course of the final four games, Buffalo’s seeding will be determined, either 1st, 2nd or 3rd. If they want that division title, they pretty much need to run the table right now. A 3-1 record could do it too but Montreal will need to lose one as well and Tampa can only accumulate 5 of 8 points in total. A win tonight in New York will put the Sabres in the driver’s seat and the loser of Montreal/Tampa on Thursday night will be bringing up the rear.

Today, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had his own net for Buffalo in the morning skate. Alex Lyon left practice early. Afterwards, Sabres’ head coach Lindy Ruff said that Lyon tweaked something, but wasn’t dressing as the backup anyway.

Buffalo is on a back to back, if Lyon can’t go tomorrow, will Colten Ellis get a start in this crucial homestretch?

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards:

Krebs – Thompson – Tuch

Benson – Norris – Doan

Zucker – McLeod – Quinn

Greenway/Pearson – Kozak – Malenstyn

Defense:

Samuelsson – Dahlin

Byram – Power

Timmins – Kesselring

Stanley, Metsa and Schenn were rotating in. Could we finally see Kess back in action? Still no Ostlund at practice, so much for day to day. Not sure what is up with Greenway but Pearson – Kozak – Malenstyn was the 4th line at practice today.

Very latest update: Kesselring, Timmins, Kozak and Pearson are officially in, Stanley, Scheen, Greenway and Dunne come out. All look like coaching decisions except maybe Greenway?

Goalies:

Luukkonen, Ellis, Lyon

New York Rangers

Forwards:

Perreault  – Zibanejad – Lafreniere

Kartye – Miller – Sheary

Cuylle – Trocheck – Brodzinski

Sykora – Labe – Chmelar

Defense:

Gavrikov – Fox

Fortescue – Schneider

Robertson – Borgen

Goalies:

Shesterkin, Quick

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