Apologies for the cheesy headline, but it does make sense in one way:
In their third meeting of this still-young season with the high-flying Sabres, the Rangers come into tonight's game positioned to make a statement.
They've won three in a row and are playing without question their most solid hockey of the season. Henrik Lundqvist is back to himself, having allowed just seven goals in his last five games.
Unlike their first meeting of the season, when the Rangers came in playing sloppy and got their doors blown off in Buffalo, and their second meeting in which the Rangers came in playing fairly well but blew a two-goal lead at home in a 4-3 overtime loss, the Rangers are playing as close to the style of defense-first hockey that made them one of the league's best teams for a time last year as they have all year.
Lundqvist is back in goal tonight, as Tom Renney rides his 24-year-old starter during his recent hot streak.
Renney said he's not worried about wearing Lundqvist by playing him on back-to-back nights.
"He's certainly in a good frame of mind. Athletically he's good, physiologically he's fine," Renney said.
"I'm not going to tell you he's Marty Brodeur and he can just go forever. I do believe you need two goalies in this league. . . The fact of the matter is we can't wait to too long to get [backup Kevin Weekes] back in."