When Rangers center Chris Drury returns to Buffalo tonight for the first time since leaving the Sabres, he can’t guarantee what kind of reception he’ll get from his former fans. But he wouldn’t be surprised if it’s as cold and frosty as the upstate weather.
“Whether I played there or didn’t play there, you’re wearing a different jersey in their building. I’m certainly not going to expect any pats on the back,” said Drury, who signed a five-year deal with the Rangers on July 1. “They’re passionate fans; they love their Sabers, love their Bills. They’re great fans, very loyal, so (I may get booed).”
The Sabres fans might be particularly bitter after seeing Drury leave the same day fellow center and co-captain Daniel Briere did. After Drury signed, the Trumbull, Conn., native talked about how he’d always dreamed of playing for the Rangers.
Whether or not the Buffalo fans treat Drury like a pariah, the 31-year-old said his priority is points, not reunions – especially with the Rangers and Sabres in a three-way tie for sixth in the Eastern Conference.
“It’ll be nice; I’ll have a chance to see my old friends. But my focus is getting a win,” said Drury, who has a dozen points (eight goals, four assists) in his last 10 games.
“The race can’t get any tighter these last 20 games for us, so every point is going to be huge,” he added. “The last 20 games here, you can say that about every game. Half of them are probably going to be in the division, so every night is going to be a big one.”
Especially coming off their five-goal collapse Tuesday in Montreal, and facing a Buffalo team that has fought through injuries to go 10-2-2 in its last 14.
Still, even with the Rangers in precarious playoff position and Tuesday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline fast approaching, coach Tom Renney proclaimed his confidence that the Blueshirts can win – even if GM Glen Sather makes no trades.
“I think we can win with what we have, honestly. I really do,” Renney said. “I believe in these guys. If someone has a different opinion I’d listen to that, but if we did nothing I’d be completely fine with that. We’ll still go after our playoff spot and have a good shot when we get there.”
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Renney said he expects G Henrik Lundqvist to play tonight, but perhaps not tomorrow. And he said F Petr Prucha (shoulder) won’t play tonight because he hasn’t faced contact, but might play tomorrow. . . . Be it superstition or pragmatism, Renney was hoping to be able to fly to Buffalo yesterday, because the last time the Rangers flew there the day of a game, they were shelled. . . . Buffalo has its own injury woes, with center Michael Ryan (groin) out and forwards Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, Jochen Hecht and Paul Gaustad all missing yesterday’s practice.