Sabres at Rangers
With a trip to the postseason all but out of the question, the New York Rangers are hoping to just end the season on a positive note. New York begins that quest Saturday as it attempts to halt a three-game slide when it hosts the league-worst Buffalo Sabres.
The Rangers are 12 points behind New Jersey for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with only eight games remaining and two other teams in their path, making it likely they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10. The club has dropped six of its last eight (2-4-2) and each of its last three, including a 4-3 decision in Philadelphia on Thursday. Buffalo concluded a 1-4-1 homestand Friday with a 3-0 setback against Montreal - its second shutout loss in three contests. The Sabres are last in the NHL with 58 points but have recorded more victories on the road (12) than at home (11) this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (Buffalo, New York)
ABOUT THE SABRES (23-39-12): Former All-Star Zemgus Girgensons returned to the lineup Friday after missing two games with an undisclosed injury and posted a minus-1 rating in 17 minutes, 36 seconds of ice time. The 24-year-old Latvian center is two points shy of 100 for his career but is in the midst of a six-game drought. Chad Johnson, who exited Wednesday's loss to Arizona after being hit in the mask with a shot, did not dress for the game against the Canadiens and is day-to-day, although coach Phil Housley stated the goaltender has not been diagnosed with a concussion.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (32-34-8): Jesper Fast is riding a career-high seven-game point streak after recording two goals and an assist against the Flyers. The 26-year-old Swede has collected three tallies and six assists during his run, putting him within five points of 100 for his career. Mika Zibanejad also has been red-hot as he enters Saturday with a four-game goal-scoring streak during which he has registered six tallies - including his team-leading 26th on Thursday - and a six-game run on which he has collected 10 points.
OVERTIME
1. Rangers C Kevin Hayes needs two assists to reach 100 in the NHL.
2. Buffalo F Seth Griffith was assigned to Rochester of the American Hockey League upon Girgensons' return to health.
3. New York agreed to terms with 20-year-old D Ryan Lindgren, who was acquired from Boston in the trade involving Rick Nash, on an entry-level contract.