Score: Rangers 3 | Sabres 2
Shots: BUF 24 | NY 19
Shots Attempted: BUF 61 | NY 39
Sabres Goals: Sam Reinhart (8), Tobias Rieder (4)
Rangers Goals: Pavel Buchnevich (6), Alexis Lafreniere (3), Chris Kreider (10)
Plus 1 – We Scored a Goal! Twice!
Within just a few short minutes of the opening face-off, the Buffalo Sabres were already in better shape than their last two games (during which they were shut out and completely embarrassed at home). Both the New York Rangers’ and Sabres’ first shots of the game turned into goals. Victor Olofsson created a great heads-up play to find Sam Reinhart for the first Buffalo goal. Later, it would be Tobias Rieder to add another one to the Sabres’ column at even strength. Rieder currently leads the team in even-strength goals at four total – still more than his star teammates Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner, and Taylor Hall combined. We can stop beating this dead horse when those Three Stooges start scoring.
Plus 2 – The Workhorse from Whitehorse
Fighting is something we do not see very often on the Sabres. If there is anything Buffalo is good at, it is being soft. At least for the last decade, the rough and tough days have been a distant memory. Rookie Dylan Cozens gave the team a little bit of life tonight with an impressive fight with Ryan Lindgren and an excellent level of physicality in the Rangers’ zone. It was a breath of fresh air to see a newcomer really use his size and frustration to his advantage.
Minus 1 – Always Playing Catch-Up
Throughout this painful season, the Sabres have continuously failed to score first – or at all – to avoid playing catch-up for 60 minutes. Tonight was no exception. While they looked better than their last few games (which is not saying much), Buffalo once again showed fans how important it is to score first by not doing so. To make matters worse, Buffalo had only five shots on goal in the third period. That is not how you come back from behind and win a game.
Minus 2 – Nine Regulation Wins…
…in 41 games. That is all, folks. Buffalo has now lost four in a row and will look to snap their losing streak Thursday night against the Islanders.