Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres trailed the majority of Wednesday night's game and fell, 3-2, to the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center. The loss marks the team's eighth-straight loss, with seven of those eight losses coming on home ice.
The Sabres had a power play chance just 20 seconds into the game when Mika Zibanejad was called for tripping. However, Buffalo was unable to connect with the man advantage.
It was the Rangers, though, that connected on a power play chance several minutes later, as a shot from forward Mika Zibanejad beat Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on the blocker side to give New York a 1-0 lead. Zibanejad scored with Connor Clifton in the penalty box for interference.
Buffalo was credited with seven shots on goal in the first, while New York recorded 12 shots on goal.
Neither team was able to score in the second period, allowing New York to hold their one-goal lead through 40 minutes. Each team had a power play chance in the second, with the Sabres having 27 seconds of carry-over on their lone special teams chance from late in the period.
Luukkonen faced 12 more shots in the second period, making a total of 22 saves through two periods. Igor Shesterkin was credited with 15 saves through 40 minutes as well.
A fortuitous bounce off of the boards allowed the Rangers to extend their lead to 2-0 over the Sabres with 6:31 remaining in the third period. Reilly Smith was credited with the goal, his sixth of the season. The puck went in the net after hitting off Owen Power, who had position in front of the net.
Power was able to get the goal back on his next shift, unleashing a wrist shot from inside the offensive zone that beat Shesterkin. It was the fourth goal of the year for the young defenseman, with Peyton Krebs and Bowen Byram receiving the assists.
Adam Fox was able to score on an empty net against the Sabres, extending New York's lead back to two goals in the dying moments. Fox's goal was scored when he shot the puck from his own zone.
The Sabres pulled the goaltender again in favor of the extra skater, and it yielded one last goal. Tage Thompson scored with just over 30 seconds left in the game, but it was not be enough in the one-goal defeat.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
NYR: 7:01 - Mika Zibanejad (6) PPG (Aretemi Panarin, Adam Fox)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
NYR: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 15:09 - Owen Power (4) (Peyton Krebs, Bowen Byram); 19:22 - Tage Thompson (16) ENG (Owen Power, JJ Peterka)
NYR: 13:29 - Rielly Smith (6) (Adam Fox, Sam Carrick); 17:58 - Adam Fox (1) ENG (Vincent Trochek)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Adam Fox - NYR
2.) Igor Shesterkin - NYR
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres are scheduled to head out on the road for three-straight games, starting Saturday night against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. EST on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Brian Koziol starts our coverage at 6 p.m. EST with the Steve Foley Law Pregame Show.