Oct 7, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers middle Mika Zibanejad (93) takes a shot in entrance of Pittsburgh Penguins proper wing Rickard Rakell (67) in the course of the third interval at Madison Sq. Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Penner-Imagn Pictures The Buffalo Sabres enter the 2025-26 season trying to finish a 14-season playoff drought and can start that quest Thursday evening towards the visiting New York Rangers.
New York started the season with a 3-0 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday to spoil the debut of head coach Mike Sullivan, who was going through his former membership. Sullivan joined the Rangers after 10 seasons and two Stanley Cup titles with the Penguins.
Head coach Lindy Ruff returns for his second season in Buffalo after the Sabres completed a distant 12 factors behind the Montreal Canadiens for the ultimate wild-card spot within the Japanese convention final season.
Within the offseason, Buffalo despatched 23-year-old ahead JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and ahead Josh Doan. Additionally they signed free-agent ahead Justin Danforth, previously of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Doan, 23, had seven targets and 12 assists in 51 video games for Utah final season.
“He is a man that does not take any day off in observe,” Ruff mentioned. “Actually feels that no matter drill he is doing, that drill goes to make him higher. He works at it, whether or not we’re doing line rush protection or D zone. You possibly can see he is locked in.”
Ruff dominated out Kesselring (undisclosed) and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (decrease physique) for opening evening. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson has returned to observe and will play opening evening. Defenseman Owen Energy (undisclosed) practiced in a non-contact jersey and likewise might play towards the Rangers.
Alex Lyon, who was signed within the offseason, and Colten Ellis, who was claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Monday, will deal with the goaltending in Luukkonen’s absence.
“We will take care of a goaltender being out, so I feel we’ll hit a little bit adversity,” Ruff mentioned. “You develop who you are going to be. You simply cannot begin camp and say, ‘We will be this.’ So, we have an opportunity to show what we may be by coping with a little bit adversity proper off the beginning.”
The Rangers are going through adversity as nicely and go into their second sport searching for their first purpose. Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves for the Rangers in Tuesday’s season opener.
The Rangers had been shut out of their opener for the primary time for the reason that 2020-21 season. Two Penguins targets went into an empty internet.
“I feel my first commentary is we obtained a protracted solution to go to change into the crew we need to change into,” Sullivan mentioned. “I believed we had moments within the sport the place we had been enjoying the sport that we envision that we are able to play extra constantly, nevertheless it’s not almost constant sufficient.”
The Rangers had been outshot 30-25 and went 0-for-2 on the ability play.
Mika Zibanejad had New York’s finest scoring likelihood, getting open in entrance on a feed by Will Cuylle within the first interval, however his shot was large.
“They outplayed us for majority of the sport. We had some good moments within the third, however I feel the place we’re attempting to get to is best than what we confirmed as we speak,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller mentioned. “On the opposite aspect of that’s it is the primary sport. I do know we’re going to be higher.”
–Subject Stage Media
