In Buffalo, the Sabres launched 18 shots on the New York Rangers net in the third period, on Friday.
The Rangers’ Alexandar Georgiev made 17 saves in the period, and 36 total on the night, in a 2-1 win.
“Felt like there were a lot of shots so I didn’t have too much time to think about anything else, just the game,” Georgiev said. “Tight score through the whole game. Felt really good to get that win.”
The Rangers were coming off one of their most uninspired games of the season on Wednesday, a 7-3 loss to Colorado Avalanche.
Georgiev showed why he is worthy of number one status on Friday night. When the Rangers’ defense lapsed, he made the necessary saves.
Brett Murray scored for the Sabres in the third period.
“I said to the team after, it’s obviously a results-oriented business, but we can’t worry about that,” Buffalo head coach Don Granato said. “We have to play with that passion, play with that compete, believe in the outcome, get in the moment. Because you start concerning yourself with that, it pulls you out of that competitiveness, especially where we’re at, in a fight every night, and doubt creeps in, and you just can’t have it. We’ve had that the last few games and we need to get rid of that. And we started with that tonight.”
Buffalo dropped to 8-15-3.
“We have a very competitive group,” the Sabres’ Tage Thompson said. “Guys want to win, play for each other and I thought you saw that tonight — not by the result, but by the effort. Guys standing up for each other and working and battling until the end of the game there. If you’re doing the little things consistently, wins are going to take care of themselves. It’s just making sure we’re playing the right way and tonight, I thought we did.”
Mika Zibanejad scored off the power play in the first period to give New York a 1-0 lead.
“Of course, it’s frustrating when the puck doesn’t go in, especially when the chance has been there,” Zibanejad said. “But at the same time, it’s just a process. And you know, again, the team [comes] first and if I can help with the goals that’s great.”
The Rangers improved to 18-5-3.
Alexis Lafreniere scored on a snap shot off a rebound from an Adam Fox shot on goal.
“I was really happy with the first period,” Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said. “Obviously it was a great period, we didn’t give them much at all. We were playing real good hockey. Then, we talk about it a lot in the locker room about changing momentum of the game, and we started turning pucks over again and that gave them momentum. Buffalo works hard, they compete hard, but we gave them a lot of those opportunities in the second period. Self-inflicted wounds, so we’ve got to be better in those situations. Again, got to get that 60-minute game and we’re still working at it.”
Fox assisted on both Rangers goals.
Buffalo looked to have tied the game with less than a minute left in regulation. The Situation Room in Toronto called for a video review, and the goal was overturned for offsides on the play.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 29 saves in the Sabres loss.
“He’s been great,” the Sabres’ Kyle Okposo said. “We’ve given him one goal in two games. Obviously, that’s not enough. He’s been fantastic. He made three or four 10-bellers tonight. If he keeps playing like that, he’s going to give us a chance to win every night. … He stepped in and played great.”
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