Once again Alexandar Georgiev stole the show for the Rangers, who snapped their two-game losing streak against the Buffalo Sabres.
- Buffalo Sabres 1 (23-40-12, 58 points)
- New York Rangers 5 (33-34-8, 74 points)
- BUF Goals: Sam Reinhart (20)
- NYR Goals: Chris Kreider (15), Jimmy Vesey (16,17), Neal Pionk (1), Mika Zibanejad (27)
- NHL. Final. Boxscore.
- Madison Square Garden, NY, New York.
Both the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres entered the night on losing streaks as the season winds down. It would be the Rangers who broke their small two-game losing streak as they took this contest 5-1.
The story of this game was by far the play of rookie Alexandar Georgiev. Starting in his second consecutive game due to the Henrik Lundqvist injury, Georgiev would go on to make 43 saves on 44 shot attempts. He came 4:34 short of his first career shutout, but he continued to open eyes.
Buffalo came out and completely dominated the first period, outshooting the Rangers 21-10. Georgiev was put to the test and he shined yet again, stopping all 21 shots to give the Rangers a chance to find their legs.
Georgiev's made 14 saves already.. against the Sabres. Okay. pic.twitter.com/ken5K7cZoX
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 24, 2018
Entering play Saturday night, the line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Jesper Fast had been on an absolute tear. They all came into the game with point streaks and that would only continue.
The #NYR take a 1-0 lead, it's Kreider from Zibanejad and Fast pic.twitter.com/GGsjdmDai6
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 24, 2018
Kreider now has a point streak of five games, Zibanejad a point streak of seven games, and Fast a point streak of eight games. The line has combined for 25 points including 13 of the Rangers last 18 goals in the teams last 15 games.
The Rangers weren’t done in the period as Mats Zuccarello would feed Jimmy Vesey with a beautiful pass to put the Rangers up 2-0.
Vesey from Zuccarello makes 2-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/kYc5N97OdH
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 24, 2018
With the goal, Vesey has tied his career high in goals with 16. The way he’s playing lately is on pace to break that career high, and he would later on.
Buffalo would continue to outshoot the Rangers in the second, but the difference in this game was goaltending. Georgiev would make 30 saves through two periods compared to Robin Lehner who would make eight saves on 12 shots.
Neal Pionk has been playing some great hockey as of late, collecting assists at on a nightly basis. Saturday would finally be the night that Pionk would crack the back of the net.
Pionk scores his first NHL goal to give the #NYR a 3-0 lead. Vesey & Hayes with the assists pic.twitter.com/74TAFJG8Pm
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 25, 2018
The goal was Pionk first career goal and it extended his points streak to seven games. And he wasn’t done in this one adding an assist on the Rangers fourth goal.
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 25, 2018
With the goal, Zibanejad extends his goal streak to five games where he has scored seven goals in that span. His 27 goals lead the team.
The Rangers weren’t done after chasing Lehner from the game would add another on the power play.
Vesey scores on the power play, from Spooner and Hayes. 5-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/h68P6KfeDb
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 25, 2018
This time it was Vesey finishing with the man advantage. The goal was a career-high 17th goal for Vesey who continues to play well since the trade deadline.
Buffalo would a goal on a deflection in the closing minutes of this one, but the damage was done entering the period. The Rangers next play Monday night against the Capitals at the Garden.