Morning Skate | Tokarski to start, Miller rejoins lineup in New York

Dustin Tokarski will start in goal for the Sabres to open a two-game set against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Tokarski had started five straight games prior to Friday, when the Sabres turned to rookie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make his NHL debut against the Bruins. Interim head coach Don Granato suggested Luukkonen could start the second game between the Sabres and Rangers on Tuesday.

"You have an opportunity to acquaint (Luukkonen) with the team we're playing," Granato said. "That's the beauty of playing a team back-to-back, very nice for that and many other reasons."We'll use that to our advantage … and give him the opportunity to see a game in this building and prepare for the next one."

Colin Miller will step in on defense in place of Will Borgen, who will get a day off after returning from a two-month absence to appear in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday.
"My concern going in with him was he hadn't had practices and there's so many different components to the system," Granato said. "So, he'll come out, give him a game to breathe and I expect him right back in there. I think it's just part of the process, really."
The Sabres will look to build on a 6-4 victory over the Bruins on Friday that improved their April record to 6-5-2. Arttu Ruotsalainen scored for the second straight game while Sam Reinhart earned his fourth-career hat trick, upping his team-leading goal total to 20.

Scouting the Rangers

New York is 8-3-2 in April but still on the outside of the playoff picture. Boston currently occupies fourth place in the East Division with a six-point lead over New York and two games in hand.
The Sabres are 2-2-2 through six games against the Rangers, having won the most recent matchup in a shootout on April 3. Rangers forward Artemi Panarin leads the season series with nine points (3+6).
Goalie Igor Shesterkin will make his fifth start of the season against the Sabres. Defenseman Jacob Trouba is day to day with an upper-body injury and will be out for a third straight game.

Tune in

Coverage on MSG begins at 5:30 p.m. Puck drop is scheduled for 6.