New York (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres didn’t have their "A" game in the third period on Thursday against the New York Rangers, but they found a way to leave Madison Square Garden with a 5-2 win.
Buffalo has now won 12-of-13 games for the first time since 2005, and have also won 8-of-9 on the road.
There was plenty of hand-wringing after Buffalo lost to the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Saturday to have their 10-game winning streak snapped. Those games are going to happen, and they will happen again.
The key, though, is how a team responds to that game?
The Sabres responded with calm and maturity, and have since won their last two games since.
There were plenty of times in the third period on Thursday where this team could’ve panicked and lost. Buffalo built up a 3-1 lead entering the third period on great goaltending from Colten Ellis, as well as good attention to detail. Ellis hadn’t played in almost a month, but he didn’t look rusty, and was there to make the big saves at the right time.
Just 51 seconds into the final frame, though, Vincent Trocheck came down the right side and put one through Ellis’ pads. That was one the rookie goalie said after the game he’d want back.
The Rangers then threw everything they had at Buffalo, and at one point held an 11-0 shots advantage. I thought the team did a great job of fighting through the adversity of the period.
The one thing Buffalo hasn’t cleaned up is taking late third-period penalties.
Peyton Krebs took a four-minute high sticking penalty at 14:24, and the Sabres were staring down more adversity. Could they hold the fort down for four minutes of power play time and get the game into the garage?
That question got answered in 14 seconds.
Ryan McLeod immediately got control off the faceoff, and Mattias Samuelsson saw an opening. McLeod sent the defenseman down the left wing side, and Samuelsson looked like he came through the left circle and got too deep.
However, Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick was down on one knee and left the top of the net open. Samuelsson wired a shot past Quick’s head and under the crossbar for a shorthanded goal that gave Buffalo a 4-2 lead.
The Rangers were disillusioned after that, and Buffalo killed the penalty.
The empty net goal is even worth talking about.
McLeod missed the open net, but he took off like he was shot out of a cannon. His speed got him to the puck off the back wall, and he deposited into the empty net.
The desire to win a hockey game really showed watching that play.
It only took four minutes into the first period for the Sabres to take a lead they would never relinquish, and it was, again, Samuelsson driving the play. He made a good read and got down low behind the Rangers net. Josh Doan parked himself in front, and Samuelsson set him up for the goal.
Doan has now scored in four-consecutive games.
Buffalo tallied its first power play goal in eight games and, of course, it was Jason Zucker who scored it. Many would call it a lucky goal - they’d be right - but the best way to get breaks is to make sure you’re there to create them. If Zucker isn’t in front of the net for Rasmus Dahlin’s shot, he’s not going to have the puck hit him in the back and go in the net.
Even though Ellis let in a goal he should’ve had, I thought he looked good, making 30 saves in an arena he was really looking forward to playing in for the first time.
The Sabres remain in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a points percentage of .595. The Toronto Maple Leafs are right behind them at .570.
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their sixth-straight game on Thursday, and are one spot ahead of the Sabres at .607.
In the Atlantic Division, the Detroit Red Wings are holding down third place with a points percentage of .622. The Tampa Bay Lightning have won eight-straight games and are in first place at .655.
Buffalo returns home for a five-game homestand starting Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks.
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