Chris Kreider’s OT goal sends Rangers into break with win over Sabres
For the Rangers, Saturday nights matchup with the Sabres was always about going into the Christmas break on a high note.
However, it became a grippingly competitive contest that was tied up twice before overtime was required to decide a winner and thats what made the Blueshirts victory that much sweeter than just a regular feel-good win.
Chris Kreider scored 2:28 into overtime, off a backhanded pass from Mika Zibanejad behind the net, to secure a 4-3 win over Buffalo and salvage the Rangers holiday spirit after they lost the previous night.
We hate losing in here, and we know what were capable of, said Vincent Trocheck, who played a crucial role in the Rangers penalty kill late in the third period. We know how good of a hockey team we are. Any time we lose, it puts a sour taste in our mouths, and that next game is always really important.
5Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) reacts with left wing Chris Kreider (20) after he scores a goal during the second period on Wednesday. Robert Sabo for NY Post
5Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save during the second period on Saturday. Robert Sabo for NY PostRangers goalie Igor Shesterkin made three clutch saves early on in the extra period to finish with 27 on the night, including back-to-back stops on Alex Tuch and Casey Mittelstadt just over a minute-and-a-half into OT.
Head coach Peter Laviolette noted the game was dangling on a string for either team in overtime, but it was Shesterkin who proved to be the difference for the Rangers.
5 Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson (6) get into a scuffle during the second period. Robert Sabo for NY PostHe always gives us a chance to win, said Zibanejad, who led the Rangers with a goal and two assists for his third three-point effort of the season and second against Buffalo.
The Rangers have given up crucial goals at the start of periods a few times as of late, and Saturday it was a game-tying score from Jack Quinn 1:42 into the middle frame that knotted the contest at two-all.
There have been times when an early goal has caused the Rangers to collapse like Mitch Marners power-play goal 1:29 into the third period of the Maple Leafs 7-3 win earlier this month or Zach Hymans goal 3:07 into the final frame of the Oilers 4-3 win Friday night but the club responded this time around.
The top line of Kreider, Zibanejad and Blake Wheeler have had a few strong games now, and they were the Rangers most productive line all night.
Jumping on the rush later in the second period, Wheeler dished to Kreider, whose initial shot was saved before Zibanejad backhanded it in to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.
The Rangers werent able to extend their lead before a bouncing puck made its way out to Mittelstadt, who tapped it home at the 6:50 mark of the third period to make it a 3-3 game and ultimately force overtime.
5Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) celebrates with his teammates after he scores a goal during the first period on Saturday. Robert Sabo for NY PostStill, the clubs overall performance was in response to Friday nights low-energy, 4-3 loss to the Oilers.
The Rangers came out with some zip in the first period, which allowed for Ryan Lindgrens shot from the top of the zone to find the back of the net through traffic.
And after the Rangers earned the first power play of the evening, Artemi Panarin capitalized with a top-corner snipe on Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
With it, the Rangers have now scored a power-play goal in seven straight games, which is their longest such streak since Oct. 5-22, 2009.
5Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) celebrates with New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) after Kreider scores the game winning goal during overtime. Robert Sabo for NY PostThere was a lot of resiliency tonight, Laviolette said. It didnt feel like we were coughing up leads. It felt like it was a hockey game going on. It was a good game. Buffalo played well. They played hard. Theyre a really good offensive team. Theyre going to generate and theyre going to get chances, but to be resilient like that, come back from 2-2, come back from 3-3, theres a lot to like about tonight and the way we played the game.
Especially coming off of last night, too. To put that to bed and then to wake up and play the way we did, the right mindset right from the start, was really good.
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