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Buffalo Sabres News

The Rangers signed Zac Jones to a two-year deal worth $1.625 million ($812.5K AAV).

Jones spent most of the 2023 season in the AHL, collecting 31 points (8G / 23A) in 54 games with Hartford. During his brief time with the Rangers, he had two points (1G / 1A) in 16 games, giving him a combined eight points (1G / 7A) in 38 career NHL games. The one-way deal suggests that Jones is a part of the Rangers' blueline plans for the 2023-24 season.

Zac Jones
The Sabres signed Ryan Johnson to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Johnson was selected in the first round (No.31 overall) of the 2019 NHL draft, and signs his ELC after his senior season at the University of Minnesota. The 21-year-old defenseman had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 40 games this season, and figures to start the 2023-24 season with Rochester (AHL).

Ryan Johnson
The Blue Jackets have signed Josh Dunne to a one-year, two-way contract.

Dunne spent most of the season with Cleveland (AHL), where he tallied 20 goals and 17 assists (37 points) in 65 games. He appeared in eight NHL games this season and 14 total in his career, but has yet to record a point with the Blue Jackets.

Josh Dunne
Alexandar Georgiev will start Game 5 vs. Seattle Wednesday.

Georgiev allowed three goals on 43 shots (.930 SV%) as he dropped Game 4 in a 3-2 overtime loss to Seattle his last time out but will take the pipes yet again Wednesday for Game 5 in Colorado. The 27-year-old has been solid in his first season as a starter in the playoffs, brandishing a 2-2-0 record, 2.99 GAA and .908 SV%. He will hope to get Colorado back in the win column as they host Seattle, who was forth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).

Alexandar Georgiev
Georgiev will start Game 4 in Seattle.

Georgiev allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) but still picked up his second-straight victory as he propelled Colorado to a 2-1 series lead after a 6-4 win in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been shaky this post-season compared to his strong regular season, with his 2-1-0 record, 2.02 GAA and .898 SV%. He will look to pick up a third consecutive victory over Seattle Monday, who finished the regular season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).

Alexandar Georgiev
Alexandar Georgiev will start Game 3 Saturday vs. Seattle.

Georgiev stopped 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a winning effort to tie Colorado's opening series 1-1 as they beat Seattle 3-2 on Thursday. The 27-year-old has carrier his strong regular season play right into the post-season as he is 1-1-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .915 SV%. He will hope to keep the Avalanche in the win column as they take on Seattle on the road, who was fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52) during the regular season.

Alexandar Georgiev
Alex Lyon was in the starters' crease at morning skate and will start Game 3 vs. Boston.

Lyon stopped 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) to even up the Panthers' opening series with a 6-3 win over Boston in Game 3. The 30-year-old journeyman had an exceptional end to the 2022-23 season as he propelled Florida into the playoffs with his 9-4-2 record, 2.89 GAA and .914 SV%. He will hope for more positive results in Game 3 vs. Boston, who closed out the regular season second in the NHL in goals per game (3.67) and ninth in shots per game (33.0).

Alex Lyon
Alexandar Georgiev will start Game 2 Thursday vs. Seattle.

Georgiev stopped 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) but took the hard loss as he was downed 3-1 by the Seattle Kraken in Game 1 Tuesday. The 27-year-old was incredible in his first season in Colorado, ranking second all-time in single-season franchise wins with a 40-16-6 record, .919 SV% and 2.53 GAA. He will hope for better results in Game 2 vs. Seattle, who finished the 2022-23 season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).

Alexandar Georgiev
Alex Lyon will start Game 2 vs. Boston on Wednesday.

Lyon allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Game 1 but stood on his head for the majority of the game and will get the nod for Game 2 Wednesday in Boston. The 30-year-old journeyman was a revelation for the Panthers this season, going 9-4-2 with a .914 SV% and 2.89 GAA. He takes on the Boston Bruins, who are without star centre Patrice Bergeron (upper-body) but finished the regular season with the most Wins all time (65) and most points all time.

Alex Lyon
Alexandar Georgiev will start Game 1 Tuesday vs. Seattle.

Georgiev completed his impressive first full regular season in Colorado by placing second all-time in Wins in franchise history as he went 40-16-6 with a 2.53 GAA and .919 SV% and will start Game 1 vs. Seattle as expected Tuesday. The 27-year-old has never started an NHL playoff game but did appear twice for New York Rangers in 2021-22, posting a 0-1-0 record, with a .935 SV% and 2.04 GAA. He takes on the Seattle Kraken, who are making their first-ever playoff appearance as a franchise after finishing the season 46-28-8 and fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).

Alexandar Georgiev
Lyon will start Game 1 in Boston.

Lyon was a revelation for the Panthers in the season's final months, picking up points in seven of his last eight starts while posting a 9-4-2 record, with a 2.89 GAA and .914 SV%. The 30-year-old has yet to experience playoff hockey throughout his six-year NHL career and will make his playoff debut Monday as he takes on the Boston Bruins. He draws the incredibly difficult task of taking on the Bruins, who set NHL records in both wins (65) and points (135) on way to a historic regular season finish.

Alex Lyon
Thompson (upper-body) will not play in the Sabres' season finale on Friday.

Thompson will not play in the Sabres' final game of the season Friday vs. Columbus due to an upper-body injury. It puts the cap on a phenomenal breakout campaign for the 25-year-old, who had 47 goals, 47 assists, 295 SOG, 39 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus though 78 games in 2022-23.

Tage Thompson
Michael Kesselring has been reassigned to Tucson (AHL) following the conclusion of the Coyotes' season.

Kesselring had three assists, eight SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through nine games this season with Arizona but has been assigned to Tucson (AHL) Friday following the conclusion of Arizona's season. The 23-year-old returns to the AHL, where he had 14 goals, 14 assists, 45 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 58 games with Tucson (AHL) and Bakersfield (AHL) this season.

Michael Kesselring