After getting back to their game and snapping a mini-skid, the Buffalo Sabres hope to stay on track and keep pace atop the Atlantic Division when they visit the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
The Sabres (47-23-8, 102 points) earned a share of top spot in the division when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Monday to end a two-game slide, but could find themselves needing to tie the Lightning again, with their division foes in action Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. A Tampa Bay win would put Buffalo two points behind; a loss would open the door for the Sabres to reclaim sole possession of first.
“We’ve got to take this and take the confidence that we get away from wins like this, and we’ve got to roll with it, honestly, because when it comes down to playoffs, it’s usually the hottest team that makes it the farthest, the team that has a really good base and structure, and some of the deepest teams,” winger Alex Tuch said. “I think we can check off all those boxes.”
Tuch scored his 30th goal of the season in the victory, reaching the mark for the third time in the past four seasons, and delivered one of his best outings of the season. His speed and skill were on display as he pumped six shots on goal, including three in a span of several seconds on a short-handed opportunity in the second period.
“I thought he skated incredible in the game. I thought his penalty killing was really good. It was a big night for him,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “I thought our top players had a good night. (Josh) Norris had a good night, and Alex had a good night. (Tage Thompson) really skated well, competed. It was a night we needed our top guys, and I thought they came through for us.”
Across the state, four games remain in what has been a disappointing campaign for the Rangers (33-36-9, 75 points), who will play their final home game before a three-game road trip wraps up their season.
Home ice has been anything but an advantage for New York, which is just 14-19-7 as the hosts. Their 14 wins are fewest in the Eastern Conference and third-fewest in the NHL overall.
It’s been a touch better over the past month, however, with half of those 14 victories coming since March 5 — including a 5-1-0 stretch through the first six games of their final homestand of the season after officially being eliminated from postseason contention.
The Rangers are coming off an 8-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Sunday. It marked a season high in goals scored and was their largest margin of victory.
Will Cuylle scored his first NHL hat trick in the victory, giving him 20 goals on the season to match last year’s career high in four fewer games.
“That’s a big deal,” New York coach Mike Sullivan said. “It’s hard to score in this league. You get an opportunity to get a hat trick, it’s a big deal for a player and it means a lot. I think it means a lot to our whole team when a player is able to accomplish it.”
