NEW YORK (NY) – A depleted Buffalo Sabres team looked fully healthy after dominating the New York Rangers Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Henrik Lundqvist let in four goals on 19 shots as Anders Nilsson gave the Sabres their second win in seven games recording 24 saves.
The Sabres got tallies from Zemgus Girgensons, Evander Kane, Justin Bailey, who recorded his first goal of the season and Jack Eichel.
The Rangers got their lone mark from defenseman Nick Holden who continues to impress. Aside from his one timer (already down 3-0 in the second period) the Rangers did nothing to excite or show life. They were beaten on every dump-in, out skated in their zone and making a tape to tape pass in the neutral zone seemed like an impossibility. After winning their past three contests, the Sabres were too much for the Blueshirts to handle.
Girgensons started off the scoring 12:17 into the first (less than two minutes after New York recorded their first shot on net) when he picked up a loose rebound in front, brought it to his back hand and beat Lundqvist’s glove up high.
It seemed the Rangers were going to get out of their lack luster first period only down 1-0 but Kane’s hustle was able to diminish that idea. Sam Reinhart ripped a shot from the right circle that was stopped by Lundqvist, but dribbled behind him where a streaking Kane was able to knock in the loose puck with just 38 seconds left to go.
Bailey’s first of the season happened with his body parallel to the ice. Kevin Klein was being chased deep in his own zone when his clearing attempt was redirected to the middle of the ice where Bailey was waiting. After getting his skates tied up he found himself diving to get the shot off, which beat Lundqvist five hole.
Holden’s goal came off a one timer on a delayed penalty. J. T. Miller got the puck at the bottom of the left circle and touched it up to Holden who ripped it past Nilsson’s right shoulder to get the Rangers on board. They outshot the Sabres 15-4 in the second period. So, they got that going for them.
Any chance of a comeback was muted from Eichel when he recorded his seventh goal of the year on the power-play 1:10 into the third. His goal came off of a beautiful passing play from Reinhart after an unfortunate bounce from Ryan McDonagh found its way to the oppositions stick. His goal was his second against the Rangers this year.
Third period was actually worse for the Rangers as they didn’t record their first shot on net until 5:28 left in the game.
Rangers head immediately to the city of brotherly love to face the Philadelphia Flyers for an important Metro division clash on Wednesday night rivalry night on NBC Sports at 8pm.
The Sabres face the Blackhawks on Thursday at 8:30pm, also on NBC Sports.
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