Key Players in Round 2 for Sabres/Rangers

As the Second Round nears, lets have a little talk about who will be the biggest factors in the Sabres and Rangers.

Buffalo Sabres

LYDMAN

Toni Lydman – Not the biggest name on the Sabres, Lydman remains among the most important players on the Buffalo roster. The veteran defenseman leads the Sabres in ice time in these playoffs, seeing a little more than 22 minutes per game. He plays major minutes on the penalty kill, as well. All of which means he will see some serious time against the Rangers’ top line of Jagr, Nylander and Marcel Hossa. His ability to keep that trio in check, and limit the effectiveness of New York’s potent power-play unit, will be among the keys to this series.

DRURY

Chris Drury – With a team-leading four goals in the first round, including a pair of game-winning tallies, Drury has further bolstered his reputation as a clutch player that thrives on the biggest stages sport can provide. Not only does Drury already own a Stanley Cup ring (2001, Colorado) and 103 games of postseason experience; he is also averaging a point per game in the postseason during the last two years, compiling 13 goals and 10 assists in a 23-game span.

MILLER

Ryan Miller – Because of Buffalo’s clear skill advantage over the Islanders in the first round, Ryan Miller merely had to be good to see his team through to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. His 2.21 GAA was topped by six other playoff starters, including the Rangers’ Lundqvist (1.50). His .918 save percentage was bested by eight other goalies with as many starts as Miller, again including Lundqvist. Miller knows he will have to be better and proved during last year’s stunning march to the Eastern Conference Finals that he can be better.

NY Rangers

NYLANDER

Michael Nylander – The Rangers’ top-line center seems to be putting his game together at just the right time. He dominated the first round with a team-high eight points, including a spectacular hat trick in Game 3. He used his speed to drive aggressively to the net, an aspect of his game that is often missing. He also took shots when presented, another aspect of his game that is sometimes lacking. Plus, he remains one of the best passers in the game and can do everything at a high rate of speed. It’s little wonder he was so effective in the first round.

JAGR

Jaromir Jagr – The Rangers' best player quietly had seven points in the first round, including two goals. He also took 18 shots. His speed and arsenal of dekes was too much for an overmatched Atlanta blue line to handle, so the Jagr unit was able to maintain possession in the offensive zone and move the puck around for better looks at the Atlanta goalie. Buffalo’s defense is far more mobile, so Jagr will have to raise the level of his game this time around; a task he is certainly capable of accomplishing.

LUNDQVIST

Henrik Lundqvist – There has not been a better goalie in the NHL since the calendar flipped to 2007. “The King” had a .939 save percentage and a shutout against the Thrashers in taming their offense. In his last 44 games, Lundqvist has recorded a 1.89 goals-against average to go along with a .929 save percentage. Amazingly, he only faced Buffalo once this season, dropping a 3-2 overtime loss in a game that saw him stop 28 of 31 shots.