Tonight the Sabres started hot, played a bit sloppy, but came back in the third period to beat the Rangers 5-3 on the road for a big win, now alone in first in the Atlantic Division.

The Sabres scored first, 4:40 into the game in transition with Ryan McLeod getting ahead of the Rangers defense and putting it right under the arm on Shesterkin, blocker side on a quick shot to make it 1-0 Buffalo. Zach Benson tipped in a shot from the point by Dahlin to make it 2-0 with 11:04 left in the first period, after the Rangers couldn’t clear the puck following a nice save by Igor on a fantastic chance for Doan right in front. The Rangers got on the scoresheet with 39 seconds to go in the first with a nice pass that looked like a shot by Adam Fox up at the blue line for Alexis Lafreniere to tip in from the side of the net, making it a 2-1 game. Pretty good first period for the Sabres after the bit of the sloppy start defensively.

The Rags tied it up 2:57 into the second, with Lafreniere getting off on a breakaway for his second of the game, top shelf, stick side on UPL. Great shot, but bad turnover by Doan to give up the breakaway. New York their first lead of the game with with 5:16 left in the second with Adam Fox ripping it from the slot past a screened UPL to make it 3-2 Rangers. Bad period for us.

Alex Tuch tied it up at 3-3, redirecting in a shot from up top by Krebs to knot it up, 5:45 into the third period. Much needed. Just 1:28 later, with 12:46 left in the period, Jason Zucker got the puck out of the crease, pulled it around Shesterkin to make it 4-3 and get us the lead back. HUGE. With 1:15 left, Zach Benson capped off the game on an empty netter, with Josh Doan passing it over to him after a nice move to give Benson the second of the night for him.

FINAL: Sabres 5, Rangers 3

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I didn’t think we played all that great tonight in MSG, but got a huge win to get out of the three way tie and lead the Atlantic Division alone. We got out to a hot start offensively, but really through the first two periods and to start the third, we looked so sloppy on the back end, letting the Rags back into the game and giving them the lead, but with two goals in a minute in the half in the third, got the win for two in a row. Let’s keep the foot on the gas and win again tomorrow with me in the building and hold that first place spot.

Let’s Go Buffalo!

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