Quick – when was the last time the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Rangers? Before tonight, you’d have to think back years, wondering if Chris Drury’s playoff goal was the last time the Sabres overcame their Metro opponents (it wasn’t).
Well after tonight’s game, the answer to that question isn’t so hard to figure out anymore.
The Sabres snapped a nine-game losing streak to the New York Rangers with a 4-3 win. It all started with Ryan O’Reilly, who scored twice in the first period to give the Sabres the lead. The first was a pretty snap shot over the shoulder of Henrik Lundqvist, and the second was a beautiful 2-on-1 finish after Jack Eichel held the puck foreverrrrrr and found ROR at the last second for his second of the period.
O’Reilly scoring 20 goals this season means the Sabres have four players with 20 or more goals for the first time since 2010-11, and this is the first time all four scorers are age 25 or under since 1987-88.
The second period started with a bang, as Zemgus Girgensons scored just 46 seconds in to the period, which resulted in Lundqvist being pulled after giving up three goals on nine shots. The teams would trade goals for the rest of the period, including a Matt Moulson goal from his knees to end the period 3-2.
The third period saw the Sabres outshot 16-5 and give up a goal, but they hung on when it counted, including killing off a 5-on-3 late in the period, to take the win over the playoff-bound (some other day) Rangers.
Three Questions
1. Which O’Reilly brother will look better tonight?
Ryan was the man of the night this time, scoring the first two goals of the game on his way to the first star of the game. Cal swapped places with his brother, earning just an assist this time around.
2. Can the Folingo-Larsson-Gionta line stay hot?
Sadly no, this line did assist on Girgensons goal, but other than that, they got four shots on net but did not score.
3. Will the Rangers clinch a playoff spot tonight, or will the Sabres snap a long losing streak against New York?
The Rangers must search for the playoffs elsewhere.
Comment of the Game
20 Goal scorers
Last year: 1 and he only has 3
This year just welcomed number 4 and 2 are rookies, this makes me feel warm all over
by Storeybox
Highlights
Coming soon.