Inspired Sabres breeze past Rangers
NEW YORK -- Three days after a dismal performance that led to Jack Eichel calling out his teammates, everyone responded.
Four players -- including Eichel -- tallied goals and Anders Nilsson made 24 saves as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the New York Rangers 4-1 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
The Sabres were swept in a home-and-home series by the Boston Bruins last week and Eichel spoke about his team's poor play and how it had to change. It led to the Sabres grabbing an early lead and finishing strong with Eichel's back-breaking goal in the third period.
The Rangers didn't register their first shot in the third period until there was 5:28 remaining.
Zemgus Girgensons, Evander Kane and Justin Bailey scored for the Sabres.
Defenseman Nick Holden scored his eighth goal of the season for New York. Henrk Lundqvist stopped 15 shots in defeat.
Girgensons' goal at 12:17 of the first period gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead. Brian Gionta whipped the puck toward the crease, where it bounced of a skate and to a cutting Girgensons, who backhanded a shot over Lundqvist for his fourth goal of the season.
Kane scored with 38.1 seconds remaining in the period to extend the lead to 2-0. Lundqvist stopped an initial shot from the right wing by Sam Reinhart, but Kane drove to the net for the tap-in goal, his ninth.
Bailey took advantage of a horrendous gaffe by Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein to make it 3-0 at 1:03 of the second period. Feeling pressure as he skated into his own zone, Klein blindly moved the puck to the middle. Bailey intercepted and beat Lundqvist to the glove side for an unassisted goal.
Holden got the Rangers on the board during a delayed penalty against the Sabres. J.T. Miller fed Holden for a one-timer from the left face-off circle that flew past Nilsson that pulled the Rangers to within 3-1.
NOTES: Sabres C Johan Larsson is out indefinitely after having surgery on his wrist and elbow. Larsson told a Swedish newspaper he will miss the remainder of the season. He has six goals and 11 points in 36 games. ... Sabres D Josh Gorges (hip) was unable to play despite being a game-time decision. ... Rangers LW Rick Nash (groin) missed his sixth straight game, although he practiced Monday. ... Rangers LW Matt Puempel (concussion) did not play. ... Rangers D Adam Clendening was a healthy scratch.