Chris Kreider’s shot found the net in overtime to end a hard-fought battle. The Sabres dropped a 2-1 decision the the Rangers at the KeyBank Center on Thursday night.
Buffalo had just finished killing off a penalty in overtime before the defeating blow came.
“I think we were taking it to them pretty good,” Evander Kane said. “Our line was happy with what we were doing. It was a tough loss. It’s hard because we did a lot of good things. I just wasn’t our night.”
Overall, the Sabres took five out of a possible six points from the Rangers this season, but the loss still hurts.
“We need all the points we can get, so it’s a disappointing loss for sure,” Brian Gionta said.
After being pulled in his last start, Henrik Lundqvist was sharp in goal for the Rangers. He stopped 36 shots for the win.
The lone Sabres’ goal came from Cody Franson as the puck bounced to him in front of the net, and he made no mistake, tying the game late in the third period.
Buffalo had its’ chances in the overtime period, ringing a shot off the pipe. The score didn’t indicate the kind of the night the offense had. Rather, it displays how strong of a goaltending battle it was.
Robin Lehner made 42 saves to keep his team in it. Dmitry Kulikov helped out his goaltender as he swept away a premium chance by Rick Nash right in front of the crease. Pavel Buchnevich missed a wide open net and shot the puck right into Lehner’s pad.
“Both goaltenders were great,” head coach Dan Bylsma said. “There were chances on both sides and the goalies shut the door for the most part.”
Mats Zuccarello opened the scoring late in the second period, deflecting a shot from Ryan McDonagh on the power play.
Zach Bogosian left the game in the first period with a mid-body injury and did not return. Bylsma did not have an update on him after the game.
The Sabres will take on the Ottawa Senators in their next game on Saturday. That game will be at the KeyBank Center and puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.