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Rangers return home for critical Game Three

Apr 29, 2007 - 12:54 PM Buffalo at NY Rangers 2:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference semifinal Buffalo leads, 2-0

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers find themselves in a must-win situation just two games into their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Buffalo Sabres.

After dropping the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Buffalo, the Rangers could find themselves in a three-games-to-none hole if they're unable to earn a victory at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Only two teams in the history of the NHL playoffs have won a series after losing the first three games.

At this point the Rangers need to figure out how to win one game against the Sabres, who have won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the squads. Even with a win, the numbers don't favor the Rangers at this point - the Sabres have won nine of the previous 10 best-of-seven series in which they held a 2-0 lead.

The Rangers were in position to even the series in Game Two, protecting a 2-1 lead entering the third period. However, goals by Chris Drury and Thomas Vanek allowed Buffalo - which hadn't played its best hockey during the first 40 minutes - to escape with a win.

Martin Straka and defenseman Paul Mara scored for the Rangers, who held a 22-9 advantage in shots through the first two periods.

Buffalo netminder Ryan Miller, who made several critical saves in the third period of Game Two, has stopped 63-of-67 shots (.940 save percentage) in the series.

Buffalo has won five straight playoff games, three shy of the team record set in 1998. With 163 career playoff points, Rangers right wing Jaromir Jagr needs one point to move ahead of Columbus' Sergei Fedorov for third among active players.