Buchnevich will go back into the lineup after having been a healthy scratch for the last two games, in San Jose and Anaheim. Asked how he thought Buchnevich was taking the decision to scratch him, Quinn said: "I hope he's pissed. I think he is. I want everybody to be pissed when they don't play. Go do something about it.

------

Both Boo Nieves (concussion protocol) and Freddy Claesson (upper body) joined the team for practice yesterday, Claesson in a red no-contact jersey, and Nieves for the first time in a regular jersey. "Good news on Boo, he got cleared, so good to see him practice and full go," Quinn said of Nieves, who has been on injured reserve since the start of the season. Claesson has missed six games. "Both are making strides," Quinn said. … Marc Staal and Ryan Spooner took a maintenance day off from practice.

PROJECTED LINEUP

90 Namestnikov - 93 Zibanejad - 36 Zuccarello
20 Kreider - 13 Hayes - 89 Buchnevich
26 Vesey - 21 Howden - 17 Fast
8 McLeod/72 Chytil/95 Lettieri/23 Spooner

18 Staal - 44 Pionk
76 Skjei - 77 DeAngelo
42 Smith - 22 Shattenkirk

30 Lundqvist 
40 Georgiev

NUMBERS GAME

Hutton is 4-0 in his career against the Rangers, with a 1.35 goals-against average and .960 save percentage.

Jack Eichel assisted on three of Buffalo's nine goals Saturday to give him 13 helpers this season, but of his 57 shots only four have found the net (7.0%).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mika Zibanejad had eight of the Rangers' 44 shots on goal in the teams' Oct. 6 meeting, on 12 total attempts. Zibanejad has 14 points in 20 career games against the Sabres.

Since they became linemates on Oct. 20, Skinner (8-5-13), Pominville (7-6-13) and Eichel (1-11-12) are the top three scorers in the NHL.