Buffalo Sabres News

The Rangers don’t play until Saturday so they will use this break to get Georgiev some playing time because Henrik Lundqvist will almost certainly start their only game of the week. Georgiev has gone 2-1-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .902 SV% in the AHL this season.

Georgiev surrendered four goals on 27 shots in the Rangers loss to the Capitals last Saturday. Georgiev was 3-2-1 with a 2.47 GAA, .915 SV% and one shutout in five appearances in November. It’s hard to tell exactly what you’re going to get from the 22-year-old from start-to-start, so it’s hard to trust him tonight in Montreal. The Habs are averaging 3.00 goals per game (t-16th) this season.

Georgiev stopped all 29 shots that he faced in the Rangers 5-0 shutout win over the Islanders on Wednesday. It was the first shutout of Georgiev’s career and 22-year-old is now 4-0-0 wile stopping 127 of 135 shots (.941 SV%) in his last four starts. He has yet to lost in two starts at Madison Square Garden, but has a tough matchup with the Capitals in town.

Lyon will make his first NHL start of the season tonight in Buffalo. He was 2-2-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .910 SV% in four starts with Lehigh Valley (AHL) before being called-up. Lyon is 4-2-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .905 SV% in 11 career NHL appearances.

Georgiev allowed one goal on six shots after replacing Henrik Lundqvist in the Rangers loss to the Islanders last Thursday. With the Islanders in town tonight, Georgiev will get another crack at them. The 22-year-old netminder is 3-2-0 with a 3.60 GAA and .894 SV% in the NHL this season and 2-1-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .902 SV% in three AHL starts.

Lyon has gone 2-2-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .910 SV% in four starts with the Phantoms this season. Lyon has been recalled because Brian Elliott left Thursday’s game with an apparent groin injury. Lyon would likely share the crease with Calvin Pickard if Elliott misses time.

Bayreuther has picked up five points (2G / 3A) in seven games with Texas this season. Bayreuther will draw into the Stars lineup on Friday after sending Ben Gleason to Texas following their last game. This would be Bayreuther’s NHL debut.

Pearson has recorded back-to-back 40-plus point seasons, but has struggled in the first 17 games of the season. Pearson has just one assist and 24 shots this season and carries a 49.1 CorsiFor%. With Hagelin going back the other way, that opens the door for Pearson to play on a line with Evgeni Malkin. Pearson is in the second year of a four-year contract that carries a $3.75M AAV cap-hit.

Thompson has been a healthy scratch for the last four games, but will replace Zemgus Girgensons on Saturday afternoon. Thompson has registered one assist and 12 shots in nine games far this season.

Lyon came up to backup Calvin Pickard on Monday, but with Brian Elliott returning to practice on Wednesday, Lyon heads back to the Phantoms, where he is 2-1-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .934 SV% in three games.

Lyon missed the start of the season but has gone 2-1-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .934 SV% in three games with Lehigh Valley since. Lyon has been called up because Brain Elliott is day-to-day, Michal Neuvirth is on IR and Lyon should backup Calvin Pickard.