The New York Rangers have a lot of bad habits, but among the most annoying is the habit of coughing up late goals.
On Saturday, they did just that again.
The Buffalo Sabres late in the third period to get even, 2-2, and force an extra session with the Rangers, which solved nothing.
In the end, that late goal cost the Rangers a point as the Sabres won the skills competition.
Linus Ullmark made 28 saves and stopped three Rangers shoots in the skills for the 3-2 win.
“We were disappointed with some things the other day,” Buffalo head coach Don Granato said. “Our internal demand, our personal standard, we didn’t hit the other day for whatever reason. We spoke of it after the game, and I believe the guys took that to heart and elevated and fought through a lot in this game. There were emotions and things that could be very emotional within the context of the game, and we battled right through it, stayed right on it, and we were rewarded for it.”
Artemi Panarin had both goals for the Rangers.
“Tonight it was about our breakdowns,” New York head coach David Quinn said. “We lost a wall battle, turned it over. I thought we backed off a little too much, which I thought we did a lot tonight. I thought we just gave them way too much room tonight, didn’t pressure the puck. I thought they came through the neutral zone way too easy. I thought the tying goal was just the result of lose a wall battle, turn it over, their guy got it in the high slot. … That’s something we’ve got to do a better job of, for sure.”
Tage Thompson had the only goal in the penalties.
Casey Mittelstadt had a goal to tie the game, 1-1.
“I think 2-on-1, especially the way I play, I’m looking to pass,” Mittelstadt said. “It’s usually a bit of an easier goal for Taylor there. But the [defenseman] just took the puck away, I picked my head and up picked my spot to shoot, and luckily I made a nice shot and it went in.”
Victor Olofsson tied the game in the third with under four minutes left on the clock.
“I wasn’t concerned about our guys psychologically at all,” Granato said. “I was concerned about the score and being down to the degree that you can be concerned about that. But I felt our guys were executing what they should be executing. … They really knew they were playing well and they knew they could elevate. So, all I mentioned to them was, ‘You’ve got another level, you know it, and let’s find it and let’s enjoy it. Let’s embrace this. This is fun.'”
Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves in the loss.
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