BUFFALO, NY – Alexis Lafreniere picked his first career goal of 2:47 in overtime to lead the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday night.
Artemi Panarin had a goal and set the opening goal of Ryan Strome’s game, and the Rangers got a 0-3-1 skid to win only the second time this season.
Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 shots for his first victory since taking over the starting positions after Henrik Lunqvist left the season.
Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist, and Jack Eichel also scored for Buffalo, which fell to 3-3-2. Linus Ullmark finished with 22 saves in one game, Sabers was beaten 24-9 in two periods and 39-25 overall.
Lafreniere, the Quebec debutant, had to wait four months before being selected first in the draft, which was postponed until October due to the coronavirus pandemic. And he had to wait until the seventh game of his career to score his first point.
The goal came after Eichel returned the puck to his own area. Colin Blackwell tightened the free kick and led the right side before returning a pass through the middle to Lafreniere, who once gave the puck inside the near post.
The Rangers finally won a game with a goal after going 0-3-1 in the last four outings.
New York coach David Quinn maintained his optimism in the youngest NHL team, noting that the Rangers’ last four outings were one-goal losses.
“I just like the pace at which we played, the way we competed and we were often the best team,” Quinn said before the game. “It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win, but we are certainly encouraged by the progress of our young players. … I have no doubt we’ll get out of this. ”
The sabers gathered to win a point in a game, overcoming two deficits with one goal.
The game turned in Sabers’ favor in the third period, starting with Ullmark’s right-footed shot to stop Lafreniere, who was left alone in the opening minute.
Buffalo then equalized on Reinhart’s power goal 20 seconds after Ryan Lindgren was penalized for cross-checking Kyle Okposo in the Rangers. Reinhart was left alone at the left post, where he redirected in Victor Olofsson’s step from the right circle.
Okposo briefly climbed the tunnel before returning to the bench after appearing to have injured his left ankle.
Ullmark was even sharper in stopping six shots during a Rangers power play in the middle of the third period, with Jeff Skinner stopped for late play.