For a fifth-straight game, the Buffalo Sabres found themselves in a tight game that took more than regulation to figure out.
Unfortunately, the blue and gold were on the wrong end of this "Broadway tale", as New York Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller dropped the curtain on the Sabres, 5-4, on Sunday evening at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers got off to a hot start in this one, namely Frank Vatrano. The forward - acquired from the Florida Panthers ahead of last week's NHL Trade Deadline - potted two goals just 18 seconds apart in the early stages of the opening period.
The Sabres got on the board before the opening frame came to an end. Rasmus Asplund found himself all alone in front of Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev, and the forward cashed in on his first goal in 46 games.
The goals kept coming for the Sabres as the second period began. Just 2:06 into the middle frame, defenseman Will Butcher potted his second goal of the season to tie the score at 2-2.
Later in the period, Kyle Okposo's power move towards the Rangers net proved fruitful, as the veteran scored his 16th goal of the year.
The Sabres' run of goals ended at three when young Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere snuck a backhand past Craig Anderson for his 15th goal to make it 3-3.
The Rangers re-claimed their lost lead early in the third period when forward Artemi Panarin's 17th goal of the year put the pressure on the Sabres, as time ticked away in regulation.
The pressure couldn't break Jeff Skinner, as 10 minutes later on a power play, the resurgent winger potted his 27th goal of the season to make it a 4-4 contest.
The game remained tied into, yet, another overtime, before Miller ended things with his sixth goal of the season.
Buffalo grabbed another point in the standings, but were unable to secure the second one in overtime.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 18:12 - Rasmus Asplund (6) (Mattias Samuelsson, Casey Mittelstadt)
NYR: 3:59 - Frank Vatrano (13) (Chris Kreider); 4:17 - Frank Vatrano (14) (Unassisted)
Second Period:
BUF: 2:06 - Will Butcher (2) (Peyton Krebs, Vinnie Hinostroza); 6:48 - Kyle Okposo (16) (Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Dahlin)
NYR: 11:46 - Alexis Lafreniere (15) (Filip Chytil, Jonny Brodzinski)
Third Period:
BUF: 13:07 - Jeff Skinner (27) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin, Casey Mittelstadt)
NYR: 3:52 - Artemi Panarin (17) (Jacob Trouba, Andrew Copp)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
NYR: 2:02 - K'Andre Miller (6) (Alexis Lafreniere, Andrew Copp)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
NYR: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 13:03 - Team (Too many men on the ice - 2 min.)
NYR: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
NYR: 12:08 - Patrik Nemeth (High sticking - 2 min.)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
NYR: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) K'Andre Miller - NYR
2.) Frank Vatrano - NYR
3.) Rasmus Dahlin - BUF
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What's next:
The second-half of a back-to-back comes Monday night when the Sabres head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks at the United Center. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. ET with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 7:30 p.m. ET with Brian Koziol.
