In a game between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers, JJ Peterka scored the first goal for the Sabres, giving them a 1-0 lead in the 1st period. Alex Tuch later scored two goals, extending the Sabres' lead to 3-1. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made several crucial saves, helping the Sabres secure a 5-1 victory. Mika Zibanejad scored the only goal for the Rangers. The game saw power play opportunities for both teams, with the Rangers struggling to capitalize. The Sabres dominated in shot attempts, scoring chances, and goals during 5v5 play, as per @NatStatTrick. Luukkonen's recent performance has been impressive, with a 2.04 goals against average and a .933 save percentage in his last six games.
In his last six games, Luukkonen is 3-1-1 with a 2.04 goals against and .933 save percentage.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen called it lucky. Alex Tuch called it the, "Save of the year." Call it whatever you'd like. UPL's diving save in a 5-1 win over the Rangers embodied the Sabres' desperation. From NYC, my story on a winning strategy they must repeat: https://t.co/tZyu6PXhgw
Alex Tuch scored twice and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 25 shots as the Sabres beat the first-place Rangers 5-1 on Monday night. https://t.co/YKYHHmPEC4 #NoQuitInNY
With Skinner-Mittelstadt-Tuch on the ice tonight at 5v5, the Sabres had the edge in shot attempts (20-4), scoring chances (8-0), and goals (2-0). Earned 98.8% of the xG share, per @NatStatTrick
Sabres not only hold lead, but extend it with Skinner steal at blue line and sets up Mittelstadt for empty-netter. 4-1.
Tuch it. Sabres regain 2-goal lead with 4:29 left.
And it's Alex Tuch who gives the Sabres another two-goal lead. Owen Power with the long breakout pass. Casey Mittelstadt with the work along the wall to get the puck to Tuch, who sliced through the defense and beat Shesterkin with a shot glove side. 3-1 with 4 minutes to go.
Tuch nets his second of the game off an aggressive move in the middle, #NYR down 3-1 with 4:29 left in regulation
Tuch with his second of the night, 3-1 BUF. #NYR down a forward and playing 5th in 8 nights didn't have the push to tie it. 4:30 to go
Tuch's second makes it 3-1, BUF.
Tuch's second of the game extends the Buffalo lead to 3-1 with 4:29 to play. At the risk of stating the obvious, that was a big goal.
Let’s see what the Sabres are made of. Up 2-0, now 2-1 with Rangers gaining momentum off quick power-play goal. Still 10:30 left.
Mika Zibanejad bullet one-timer, #NYR cut Sabres lead 2-1 with 11:52 left in the third period
Mika Zibanejad cuts the #NYR deficit to 2-1 with a power-play blast from the left circle.
The Rangers capitalize on the power play. Zibanejad one-timer beats Luukkonen blocker side. Sabres lead 2-1 with 11:52 left in the 3rd.
Zibanejad, huge one-timer from the left circle and the power play goal makes it 2-1 Buff.
#NYR win the draw on a power play, around to Zibanejad, one-timer, 2-1
Now the Rangers are getting a power play. Benson with a cross-check on Trouba. Looks like a makeup call because that Pitlick hit probably shouldn't have been a penalty. Sabres lead 2-0 with 11:49 left in the 3rd.
Sabres to the power play with Pitlick called for interference. Peterka was hit right after he got rid of the puck. Buffalo still leading 2-0 with 14:17 left in the 3rd period.
Luukkonen just made an unbelievable save to deny Jimmy Vesey of a certain goal just now. #NYR still trail 2-0, with 4:30 gone in the third period.
Incredible lunging stick save from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Jimmy Vesey. Robbed the #NYR of their first goal.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a monster save on Jimmy Vesey. Wide open net. Vesey coming through the left circle. Luukkonen reaches back with his stick. Gets it with the paddle. What. A. Save. Sabres still lead 2-0.
Diving stick save by UPL to rob Jimmy Vesey of a goal. Wow.
#NYR down 2-0 after two. Alex Tuch for BUF with 26.4 seconds left in the period. Kakko helped off after what looks like a pretty awful left knee injury. Adam Fox can return Wednesday, but w/o Kakko, they only have 11 healthy forwards right now, and will need to call someone up.
After 40 minutes it's 2-0 Buff. Shots were 13-11 Sabres.
Only the 4th time this season that the Rangers have trailed at the second intermission. 2-0, Sabres. Quite the response late in that period after the Rangers made a big push to tie it.
Sabres causing chaos around #NYR net and Alex Tuch cleans up a rebound for the 2-0 lead
2-0 Sabres Alex Tuch buries a rebound created by a Casey Mittelstadt shot with 26.4 seconds left in the 2nd period. Rasmus Dahlin with the seam pass to set it all up. Tuch's 7th goal of the season. He has 14 points (7+7) in his last 13 games.
Alex Tuch bangs in a rebound for BUF. 2-0 they lead, with 26.4 seconds left in the period. #NYR
BUF gets to 2-0 with 26.4 to go in the second, Tuch beats Miller to a rebound after a high flip into the zone set the Sabres up. Bit of a dagger for #NYR after a decent 2nd
Alex Tuch puts home a rebound, extending Buffalo's lead to 2-0 with 26.4 seconds remaining in the second period.
Luukkonen great save on Jones coming down the slot.
Rangers much more aggressive on the forecheck in the 2nd period. It's led to a few turnovers, but the Sabres have been able to record. Luukkonen with 18 saves through 32 minutes as Buffalo leads 1-0 with 7:21 left in the 2nd period.
Another great save by UPL. Stopped a shot from the point, then he managed to prevent Panarin from scoring on the rebound.
The Sabres are going to the power play for the first time tonight with 15:45 left in the second period. Rangers called for too many men shortly after Krebs setup Okposo for a shot from the slot.
Heading into the second it's 1-0 Buff. Shots were 12-9 NYR, 3 of which were on their two power plays.
End one, #NYR trail 1-0. J.J. Peterka scored for BUF. SOG are 12-9, Rangers. Officially, 4 giveaways and 4 takeaways for Rangers, 2 and 2 for BUF. Rangers have won 11-of-16 faceoffs (69%). Scoring chances at 5-on-5 were 10-5, BUF, per @NatStatTrick. HD chances were 6-4.
UPL with a big save on the PK to stop a Trocheck one-timer in the final seconds of the first period. Sabres leading 1-0 at the intermission. Only the 5th time this season that the Rangers didn't score the first goal.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen did very well to keep the Blueshirts off the board in the first period. He brushed away several series of NYR flurries. Sabres lead the Rangers 1-0 at the first intermission.
JJ Peterka gets Buffalo on the board, #NYR couldn't cleanly break out of their zone
JJ Peterka with a nasty top-shelf shot to put Buffalo on top, 1-0. Looked like the puck may have gone off Ryan Lindgren's skate and deflected right to him in a dangerous spot near the slot.
And the Sabres strike first. JJ Peterka collects the puck in the slot and beats Shesterkin to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead with 8:19 left in the 1st period. Peterka's 9th goal of the season. He has 15 points (7+8) in his last 14 games.
BUF takes the 1-0 lead, Peterka off another turnover in the #NYR zone
Turnover in the slot and J.J. Peterka pounces on it. 1-0, BUF.
No goal for the Rangers. Officials called a hand pass before Blake Wheeler beat UPL on a wraparound. Still 0-0 with 9:30 left in the 1st period. Successful PK for the Sabres. Owen Power with a key shot block and clear.
Alex Tuch hooks Ryan Lindgren, giving the Rangers' their first power play with 11:34 left in the first period. Rangers rank 3rd in the NHL on the power play.
#NYR get the game's first power play, when we return. Alex Tuch to the box for hooking Ryan Lindgren.
Alex Tuch off for hooking. #NYR will receive the first PP of the game.
#NYR have had some turnover issues early here but getting the first power play of the night, Tuch for hooking Lindgren at 8:26
Another Grade-A chance for the Sabres, this one by Alex Tuch, who collected a centering pass from Jeff Skinner in the slot and challenged Igor with a shot that was stopped. Still 0-0 with 13:40 left in the 1st period. Much better start for Buffalo.