The Rangers have lost three of their past four games (1-1-2) after a 3-2 shootout loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

The Sabres are last in the Eastern Conference but 4-3-4 after a 6-17-4 start, including a 4-3 overtime win at the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

Players to watch

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is 3-1-2 with a 2.10 goals-against average and .943 save percentage since Dec. 15. He is 3-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .933 save percentage in three NHL outdoor games.

Sabres center Jack Eichel has 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in his past 12 games. His 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) lead Buffalo.

They said it

"They've been playing hard, but in the end they've been losing a lot of close games. You have to respect their speed and skill. You have to be on top of your game. Points doesn't come easy to us, so we have to prepare a certain way and play our best if we want to win this game." -- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist

"You have to enjoy the moment. These are moments in your career you're going to remember. At the end of the day, it is a game, and once you get into the game, it's going to feel like that. But everything around it, the buildup, the leadup, being here with your families, you really have to enjoy that piece. But once the game starts, it's a game." -- Sabres forward Kyle Okposo

Rangers projected lineup

Rick Nash -- Mika Zibanejad -- Mats Zuccarello

Michael Grabner -- Kevin Hayes -- J.T. Miller

Pavel Buchnevich -- David Desharnais -- Jimmy Vesey

Paul Carey -- Boo Nieves -- Vinni Lettieri 

Ryan McDonagh -- Nick Holden

Brendan Smith -- Kevin Shattenkirk

Marc Staal -- Brady Skjei

Henrik Lundqvist

Ondrej Pavelec

Scratched: Steven Kampfer

Injured: Chris Kreider (blood clot), Jesper Fast (quad)

Sabres projected lineup

Zemgus Girgensons -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart

Evander Kane -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Kyle Okposo

Benoit Pouliot -- Evan Rodrigues -- Jason Pominville

Johan Larsson -- Jacob Josefson -- Jordan Nolan

Marco Scandella -- Rasmus Ristolainen

Jake McCabe -- Zach Bogosian

Josh Gorges -- Nathan Beaulieu

Robin Lehner

Chad Johnson

Scratched: Scott Wilson, Justin Falk, Victor Antipin

Injured: Taylor Fedun (lower body)

Status report

Antipin missed practice Sunday with an illness. … Fast, a forward, skated on the fourth defense pair with Kampfer at practice, the first time he was on the ice with the Rangers since he was injured during a 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils on Dec. 21. … Rangers coach Alain Vigneault had no update on Kreider.

Stat pack

Nash has 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in 21 games against the Sabres, including 13 (nine goals, four assists) in his past 12. … Buffalo's win Friday was its second in 21 games when trailing entering the third period (2-17-2).