The Buffalo Sabres played from behind virtually all night on Sunday, as the blue and gold were taken down by the New York Rangers by a final score of 6-3 at Madison Square Garden.
The home team opened the scoring less than five minutes into the contest. On a developing rush, 2020 No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere found Mika Zibanejad trailing the play and the veteran forward ripped a wrist shot past Dustin Tokarski for his 17th goal of the year.
Buffalo had a quick answer, though. Less than two minutes later, Jeff Skinner got off a backhand shot in front of goalie Igor Shesterkin for Skinner's sixth goal of the season.
The Rangers took a 2-1 edge later in the first period, when defenseman Adam Fox found Kaapo Kakko for a cross-ice one-timer that Kakko did not miss on. It was the young forward's seventh goal of the 2020-21 season.
Zibanejad struck again on the power play for his second goal in the opening period of play. The Rangers’ third goal came off a set deflection in the slot on the man advantage.
Zibanejad completed the hat-trick early in the second period, as he squeaked a tough-angle shot between Tokarski and the left-post. It took the Rangers forward just 22:05 of game time to achieve the three-goal effort.
Victor Olofsson cut into the deficit in the late stages of the middle stanza, as Sam Reinhart found him open on a power play for his 13th of the season.
New York answered back in the third period, re-extending their advantage to three. Kakko scored his second goal of the night on the power play to make it 5-2, Rangers.
Buffalo kept themselves within striking distance just 3:28 later, when Rasmus Dahlin found Sam Reinhart alone in the left circle for another one-time blast.
It was Reinhart's 21st goal of the campaign, and fourth since Friday night when he scored a hat-trick against the Boston Bruins.
The Rangers capped the scoring with 55 seconds to play when forward Kevin Rooney hit the empty net for the 6-3 final.
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Mika Zibanejad - NYR
2.) Adam Fox - NYR
3.) Kaapo Kakko - NYR
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What's Next:
The Sabres meet up with the Rangers again on Tuesday night, April 27. Puck drop at Madison Square Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET with the Paul William Beltz Pregame Show with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starting at 6 p.m. ET on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.