With less than two weeks before their final regular season game, the Rangers’ mad dash for a playoff spot is set to resume tonight. For the eighth and final time this season, the Blueshirts will clash with Cody Eakin, Tage Thompson, and the rest of the Buffalo Sabres. Having won five of the previous seven meetings with Buffalo, David Quinn’s squad will look to earn two more critical points tonight. Of their seven remaining games, the Rangers can really only afford to drop one contest, and having that loss come against the cellar dwelling Sabres would be a death knell to their playoff hopes.

Player to Watch: Libor Hajek

Recent comments from David Quinn have made it seem that unless injury or abhorrent play force his hand, the team’s current lineup will be the one they trot out on a nightly basis in their pursuit of a playoff berth. While Jacob Trouba’s injury initially forced Zac Jones into the lineup, Hajek has been a liability for the Bueshirts every time he hops over the boards. Trouba’s status is day-to-day, so his return to game action could come at a moments notice, and Hajek will need to step his game up if he’d like to remain in the lineup upon Trouba’s return. Keep on eye on Hajek tonight and hope that his poor play doesn’t directly cost the team any goals against for once.

Enjoy the game!