In Manhattan, the New York Rangers defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, on Tuesday night.
Alexis Lafrenire had a goal for the New York Rangers
Pavel Buchnevich put home the first goal of the game with just 28 seconds gone in the first period for the 1-0 lead for the Rangers.
“We didn’t look sharp for the most part, but I liked how we just managed to understand what we were dealing with,” Rangers head coach David Quinn said. “Going into the third period I thought we just kind of managed the game. Some nights you’re not going to have it and you have to find a way to win, and I thought we did a good job tonight.”
Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves in the win.
“I was thinking if I keep going and the defenseman bites, I can give it to Laffy for an empty-netter, but he followed me and didn’t give me a lane for a shot,” Buchnevich said. “I just created space and then I had almost an empty net. It hit Laffy and scored, 2-1.”
Sam Reinhart and Tobias Rieder were the Sabres’ strikers.
“We really neutralized them well,” Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said. “I thought we skated well. I thought there was a lot of movement. We created some better grit and O-zone time. Certainly, from execution, habits we need to take with us into the future. Disappointing final result, but the process was encouraging.”
Alexis Lafreniere scored his third of the season on a deflection off a pass/shot from Buchnevich into the crease.
The Sabres dropped to 6-11-3.
Chris Kreider potted the game-winner in the middle frame after using a Sbares’ defenseman as a screen.
“I don’t think he’s overthinking it as much as he was early on,” Quinn said. “I think he took a lot of responsibility from a leadership standpoint early in the year and it might have weighed him down a bit. I certainly like the way he’s playing now.”
The two teams combined for eight shots in the third period, with the Rangers holding the Sabres to just five shots on goal.
Adam Fox had two assists for the Rangers who improved to 8-9-3.
“Obviously, scoring first shift is a good start,” Fox said. “It’s always a lot better to play with the lead, so that was big.”
Carter Hutton made 16 saves in the loss.
“We just got to find a way to put the puck in the net, that’s it,” the Sabres’ Kyle Okposo said. “That’s what it comes down to. This is a results-based business, and I understand that playing good gets you nowhere in this industry if the results aren’t there.”
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