The visiting New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres resume their regular-season schedules Saturday after the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Rangers won three of their last four games before the break, earning a 4-3 road victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 8.
New York goalie Igor Shesterkin is expected to return on Saturday from an upper-body injury that occurred Feb. 7 in a 3-2 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shesterkin was expected to miss a week or two at the time of the injury.
Shesterkin is 18-19-2 with a 2.87 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 39 games this season.
Veteran backup Jonathan Quick would get the start if Shesterkin can’t go on Saturday. Quick recently became the first American-born goalie to reach the 400-win mark.
Six New York players participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off, which Team Canada won by defeating Team USA 3-2 in overtime Thursday night in Boston.
Defenseman Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider represented the United States, Mika Zibanejad played for Sweden and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen represented Finland.
The Rangers are fifth in the Metropolitan Division with 58 points, three points out of the last Eastern Conference wild-card playoff spot.
“It’s just game-by-game right now,” Rangers’ coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s the same as it’s been coming out of January. We were way behind it, we’ve caught up a little bit, but we’re still not there. We’re still not where we need to be.
“So I think the focus just stays game-to-game, just doing your best to be ready. You gotta approach it that way.”
Despite losing their last game before the break, 6-4 at home to the Nashville Predators on Feb. 8, the Sabres have won four of their last five.
Three Buffalo players participated in the tournament: Captain and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin for Sweden and defenseman Henri Jokiharju and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, both for Finland.
Sabres’ center Tage Thompson was a surprise omission from Team USA. He is Buffalo’s leading scorer with 48 points (26 goals, 22 assists) in 48 games.
“I think not being selected to 4 Nations gives you a little bit of that hunger, a little bit of a chip on your shoulder to try and prove something going forward,” Thompson said. “But I think those things will take care of themselves as long as you’re doing the right things to help your team here, which is the main focus.”
The Sabres are last in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference with 49 points and 12 points out of the last wild-card playoff spot.
“We’re trying to turn this into our playoffs now. … Make this your playoff push,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said.
Jordan Greenway, who has missed 23 games with a mid-body injury, is expected to return Saturday, as is defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, who missed two games with a broken foot that occurred Feb. 2.
It will be the third and final game between the teams this season. The Rangers beat Sabres 3-2 in Buffalo on Dec. 11, and Buffalo won 6-1 in New York on Nov. 7.
–Field Level Media
