The Buffalo Sabres were unable to erase a two-goal deficit in the third period in their 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Friday night at KeyBank Center.
The Rangers scored first, thanks to a power play opportunity early in the opening period. Mika Zibanejad scored his fifth goal of the season after the puck was redirected to him at the side of the net. It came with Mark Pysyk in the penalty box for hooking, making it 1-0 New York.
Buffalo did not have a power play chance in the first period, and were able to kill off one of their two short handed opportunities. They were also outshot 12-6.
Alexis Lafreniere doubled the New York lead to 2-0 when he followed up a shot that was kicked out for a rebound chance. The young forward was able to slam the puck into an open net for his sixth goal of the season. Adam Fox and Filip Chytil were credited with the assists.
The Sabres had a pair of power play chances in the middle period, but were unable to score. Jacob Trouba was called for hooking midway through the period, while Ryan Reaves was assessed a cross checking minor with under a minute remaining in the frame.
Brett Murray was finally able to get the Sabres on the score sheet with his second goal of the season on a second chance opportunity. Mark Pysyk helped create the chance with a pass from below the goal line. Murray's first shot was stopped by Alexandar Georgiev, but the forward poked home the rebound to make it a 2-1 Buffalo deficit with less than six minutes to go in regulation.
Buffalo thought they had scored the game-tying goal with under a minute remaining when Georgiev knocked the puck into his own net. After the officials confirmed the puck crossed the goal line, the situation room in Toronto reviewed whether or not the Sabres were offside to start the play. Rasmus Dahlin was offside and the goal did not count. New York retained its 2-1 lead and the clock was reset to 1:26.
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GAME RECAP
Goal Summary:
First Period
BUF: NONE
NYR: 4:48 - Mika Zibanejad (5) PPG (Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox)
Second Period
BUF: NONE
NYR: 9:47 - Alexis Lafreniere (6) (Adam Fox, Filip Chytil)
Third Period
BUF: 14:37 - Brett Murray (2) (Mark Pysyk, Kyle Okposo)
NYR: NONE
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Penalty Summary
First Period:
BUF: 2:55 - John Hayden (Fighting - 5 min.); 4:31 - Mark Pysyk (Tripping - 2 min.); 7:08 - Kyle Okposo (Hooking - 2 min.)
NYR: 2:55 - Barclay Goodrow (Fighting - 5 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
NYR: 11:17 - Jacob Trouba (Hooking - 2 min.); 19:16 - Ryan Reaves (Cross checking - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 20:00 - Dylan Cozens (Slashing - 2 min.)
NYR: 20:00 - Barclay Goodrow (Tripping - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Mika Zibanejad - NYR
2.) Alexandar Georgiev - NYR
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres are right back on the ice on Saturday night, welcoming the Washington Capitals for a 7 p.m. EST faceoff on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. EST with Brian Koziol. He will be joined by Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams at 6:10 p.m. EST.
