Buffalo notches a 4-1 victory over New York to start 2017.
NEW YORK — The Buffalo Sabres ended their 2-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. It was just the Sabres’ second victory in their last 8 games.
Greece native Brian Gionta gained control of the puck behind the Rangers net midway through the first period. He came out on the right side, sent a pass that hit off William Carrier’s skate in the slot. Zemgus Girgensons picked up the loose puck and lifted a backhander high over Henrik Lundquist’s shoulder for a 1-0 Buffalo lead. The assist was Gionta’s 10th of the season.
Evander Kane gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead in the final minute of the stanza as he knocked home a rebound off Sam Reinhart’s shot. Kyle Okposo also received an assist on the play.
Kane’s forechecking resulted in a turnover that Buffalo native Justin Bailey picked up and snapped it past Lundquist for his first NHL goal early in the second period.
The Rangers finally beat Andres Nilsson on a delayed penalty late in the stanza. Nilsson made 24 saves in gaining his first win since Dec. 6, and improved his record to 2-0 versus Lundquist.
Buffalo got that one back 70 seconds into the third period when Jack Eichel scored off assists from Reinhart and Matt Moulson.
The Sabres continue their road trip on Thursday in Chicago against the Western Conference leading Blackhawks. They return home to the KeyBank Center on Saturday versus the Winnipeg Jets.
The Sabres recalled defenseman Taylor Fedun from the Rochester Americans on Tuesday.
Fedun (29, 6-foot-1, 198 lbs.) re-joined the Sabres after posting four assists and a plus-1 rating during an 8-game stint with the team from Nov. 17 to Dec. 3, 2016.
In 20 AHL games this season, the Edmonton, Alberta native leads all Rochester defensemen in goals (4), assists (13) and points (17). His .85 points per game rank him ninth among qualifying AHL defensemen in 2016-17.