Rangers 4, Sabres 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two assists to lead the New York Rangers to a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
Derick Brassard, Jesper Fest and J.T. Miller also scored for the Rangers (39-22-6) and Antti Raanta made 34 saves.
Sam Reinhart and Johan Larsson scored for the Sabres (27-32-9), who staged a furious third-period comeback but were unable to even the score. Sabres goalie Robin Lehner was pulled for Chad Johnson in the second period after allowing three goals on 14 shots. Johnson made 11 saves after replacing Lehner.
Brassard opened the scoring on a breakaway 7:30 into the game. Zuccarello found Brassard with a terrific breakout pass and Brassard scored his team-best 24th goal of the year on a wrist shot to the blocker side.
Zuccarello made it 2-0 4:38 into the second period on a poor goal allowed by Lehner. Zuccarello beat the Sabres goalie from a hard angle in the right circle for his 22nd goal of the year.
The Rangers chased Lehner from the net 1:27 later after Fest's 10th goal of the season. With a screen in front of the net by Dominic Moore, Fest beat Lehner with a blast from just below the right circle.
The Sabres responded on the scoreboard after the change in net.
Reinhart made it 3-1 midway through the second following a beautiful feed by fellow rookie Jack Eichel. Eichel displayed plenty of patience before finding Reinhart beside the Rangers net for a tap-in. It was Reinhart's 19th goal of the year.
Larsson made it 3-2 with 3:50 remaining in the second. Sabres captain Brian Gionta fed Larsson in the slot, and the left winger continued his recent hot streak with his third goal in the past four games.
The Sabres outshot the Rangers 19-4 in the third but were unable to tie the score before Miller added an empty-net goal with one minute remaining.
NOTES: G Henrik Lundqvist, D Marc Staal and D Dylan McIlrath were scratched for the Rangers. Lundqvist is expected to return at some point this weekend from a neck injury. This was the third game he missed because of the injury. The Rangers are at Detroit on Saturday and home against Pittsburgh on Sunday. ... Rangers LW Rick Nash (injured reserve, bone bruise) is nearing a return and considered day to day. ... D Cody Franson (neck) was scratched for the Sabres. ... This was the second of three meetings between the teams this season. The third and final meeting takes place April 2 in New York.