The Rangers celebrate a second-period goal by Kaapo Kakko (24) against Buffalo Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski during an NHL hockey game Monday, March 22, 2021. Credit: AP/Bruce Bennett
Sometimes, there is more pressure facing a downtrodden opponent like the Buffalo Sabres than there is in going up against the top teams in the league.
The Sabres came into Madison Square Garden Monday a team in utter disarray: Their best player Jack Eichel, is out indefinitely with an upper body injury; their No. 1 goalie, has been out since late February with a lower body injury, and their coach, Ralph Krueger, was fired after the Sabres just couldn’t stop losing.