BUFFALO — Instead of finding ways to win these days, the Rangers are finding ways to lose.
But in an eventful low-event matchup between the two teams, Igor Shesterkin and the Blueshirts scored just one point for most of the 60 minutes en route to a 3-2 victory over the Sabers Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. effectively defended their lead.
The Rangers avoided losing three in a row, but suffered an eight-game losing streak to the Sabers.
Shesterkin got his first win last weekend since signing the goaltender to an NHL-record contract worth $11.5 million a year for eight years.
Stopping 28 of 30 shots, the Russian star netminder improved to 10-10-1 on the season.
The Sabers, who are in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, missed the net wide.
Following a scoreless middle frame, defenseman Connor Clifton hit the post in the third period.
However, all of Buffalo's biggest chances were either not taken advantage of or simply didn't work out.
The KeyBank Center crowd made sure their complaints were heard, with Rangers fans in attendance sending out chants of support before being drowned out by boos.
Still, the Rangers defended better than ever, despite losing K'Andre Miller before the start of the third period.
He missed the remainder of the game with an upper body injury.
Riley Smith then scored his third goal in the last four games, giving Rangers some insurance.
It ended up being a much-needed goal after Owen Power cut the Rangers' lead in half with 4:51 left in regulation time.
The Sabers pulled their goaltender with over two minutes left, but Adam Fox fired his first goal of the season into an empty net from the corner of the Rangers zone.
The game was ultimately won, as Tage Thompson made it a one-goal game with less than a minute left.
The Rangers played well in the first period, outscoring the Sabers 11-7 and emerging with a 1-0 lead.
Reaching the middle of the ice and winning the puck battle, the visiting team managed to draw two penalties in the first 20 minutes.
Just over seven minutes into the game, Artemi Panarin fed Mika Zibanejad for his second power-play goal of the season.
Zibanejad played in all three zones in the win, totaling one goal, five shots, and two hits.
Special teams was a factor early on, with the Sabers getting a power play just 20 seconds after puck drop.
The Rangers fended off both of Buffalo's power plays, going 4-for-4 on the man advantage and taking first place in both divisions.
The Sabers did not record a single shot on goal through two power plays.
