Rangers at Sabres
It took only one game to bring out the boo-birds for the Buffalo Sabres, who will try to bounce back from a shellacking in the season opener when they host the New York Rangers on Saturday night. It was a familiar outcome for Buffalo fans, who saw the team collect an NHL-worst 62 points and win only 11 times on home ice last season.
"Obviously, I think their fuse is a bit short for us, and rightfully so," Sabres captain Jack Eichel said. "We haven't played well the last few years. That's on us to put a better product on the ice." The Sabres have lost six in a row on home ice dating to last season and have dropped four straight to the Rangers, who outscored Buffalo 12-6 in winning the three-game series series in 2017-18. New York also lost its season opener, coming out on the short end of a 3-2 decision to reigning Presidents' Trophy winner Nashville in coach David Quinn's NHL debut. "I just thought we were hesitant," Quinn said. "We hounded the puck the way we have at times during the preseason, but it's certainly the most odd-man rushes we've given up in any game we've played."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), MSG-Buffalo
ABOUT THE RANGERS (0-1-1): Forward Jesper Fast, who notched a career-high 13 goals and 33 points last season, scored in the opener and is one point shy of reaching 100 for his career. Pavel Buchnevich added a late goal after Nashville scored an empty-netter and Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 30 of 32 shots for rebuilding New York. “There was definitely a lot of good things,’’ said Lundqvist. “I thought we got better as the game went on. ... It took some time to get going, but once we did, I thought our skating got a lot better and we started creating a lot more."
ABOUT THE SABRES (0-1-0): Thursday's game marked the NHL debut of 18-year-old defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft who had two hits and one giveaway in 22 minutes, 37 seconds. "Yeah, it was a little bit faster," Dahlin said of NHL level. "I learned how a regular-season game is. I'm just looking forward to the next game. We've got to do better." Rugged forward Remi Elie, claimed off waivers from Dallas on Tuesday, was a scratch for the opener but has impressed coach Phil Housley in practice and could be in the lineup versus New York.
OVERTIME
1. Rangers F Jimmy Vesey had two goals and an assist in the three meetings last season.
2. Eichel has three goals and nine points in nine games versus New York.
3. Rangers D Kevin Shattenkirk had a team-high seven shots on goal in the opener.