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Rangers, Sabres battle for playoff position

Feb 16, 2008 - 1:12 PM Buffalo (28-21-8) at NY Rangers (28-24-7) 1:00 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) - Currently on the outside looking in as far as the Eastern Conference playoffs go, the New York Rangers could use a win when they host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

New York is 1-2-1 in its last four games and currently is tied with eighth-place Boston (29-23-5) at 63 points. The Bruins are ahead in the standings, however, because of a higher win total.

The Sabres are somewhat clumped together with those teams as well, one point ahead of Boston in the seventh spot.

On Thursday the Rangers inked goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to a six-year contract. The 25-year-old has at times given New York spectacular goaltending in his two-plus seasons in the NHL. However, he has slumped of late, losing his past two starts.

Lundqvist is 24-21-5 with a 2.37 goals-against average and .902 save percentage this season. After allowing more than three goals only once in his first 24 starts, he surrendered at least four goals in six of 12 games in December.

Buffalo has been a good matchup for Lundqvist throughout his career, as he owns a 2-2-0 record with a 2.04 GAA in four starts.

The Sabres have won three in a row, outscoring their opponents 11-4. Goaltender Ryan Miller turned in a brilliant performance on Wednesday, stopping 35 shots for his third shutout of the season as Buffalo beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 1-0.

Buffalo left wing Thomas Vanek has been hot lately, tallying a hat trick in Tuesday's 5-1 win at Ottawa.

Lundqvist topped Miller in the first meeting of the season between the teams, stopping 23 shots as the Rangers claimed a 2-1 victory on January 16.