BUFFALO, N.Y. — Chris Kreider scored power-play and short-handed goals, Igor Shesterkin stopped 23 shots for his 100th career victory and the New York Rangers beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 in their season opener Thursday night.
Peter Laviolette’s coaching debut resulted in a victory for the Rangers, indicating that, for at least one game, they demonstrated the ability to play a more defensively responsible style. This performance was particularly significant following their first-round playoff exit to New Jersey, which led to the dismissal of Gerard Gallant.
Laviolette acknowledged the Rangers’ dedication and strong work ethic in adapting to the newly implemented defensive system during training camp. He mentioned how they referred to it as a “test drive” before the game, emphasizing that it was only one game. However, he also noted that there were some positive aspects to take away from the experience.
He went on to highly commend his penalty killing unit, describing their performance as “truly courageous.” He highlighted their exceptional shot-blocking skills, which effectively shut down Buffalo’s three power-play opportunities.
R A N G E R S W I N !!!!! pic.twitter.com/DbjPAC9P2s
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 13, 2023
Artemi Panarin notched a goal and an assist, while Alexis Lafreniere and Jacob Trouba each found the back of the net, including an empty-netter, as New York quickly surged to a commanding 3-0 lead during the second period. Additionally, Mika Zibanejad contributed three assists to the team’s impressive performance.
In just 159 games, Shesterkin became the first goalie for the Rangers to achieve 100 wins in less than 187 games. Additionally, Adam Fox marked his 200th career point with an assist in his 285th game. Among NHL defensemen, only five players, including Quinn Hughes (263 games), have reached this milestone in fewer games.
Buffalo’s JJ Peterka found the net, but the team’s performance was unexpectedly lackluster. Despite their youthful talent and training camp promises to rise to the occasion, the Sabres failed to break their 12-season playoff drought, which remains the worst in the NHL.
Devon Levi, a rookie for the Sabres, made a remarkable debut as the youngest goalie to start a season opener since Mika Noronen in 2000. At just a little under 22 years old, Levi earned the starting position after signing with the Sabres in March, right after finishing his sophomore season at Northeastern. He finished the game with an impressive 25 saves and went on to achieve a 5-2 record, including two victories against the Rangers.
Coach Don Granato explained that the Buffalo team encountered challenges while facing the Rangers’ defensive 1-3-1 strategy, which effectively congested the central area of the offensive zone. Consequently, his players experienced hesitation when attempting to shoot the puck towards the net.
Granato stated that their primary obstacle was their hesitation in taking shots. He pointed out that Peterka’s goal was a result of Power’s blocked shot, emphasizing that they needed to be more decisive in pulling the trigger. Granato believed that their failure to do so was the main factor leading to their downfall.
The Rangers showcased their defensive prowess by holding the speedy Sabres to only 12 shots over two periods. Additionally, the New York penalty killers demonstrated their defensive strength by blocking four shots within the first 90 seconds of the third period, effectively maintaining their 3-1 lead.
Trouba led the team with eight blocked shots, contributing to New York’s total of 23 blocks.
According to Trouba, he genuinely finds it enjoyable. Many guys find it thrilling, he added. Not everyone can be the one to score the crucial goals. It’s important to contribute in any way possible, whether it’s through making hits or blocking shots. Winning games requires a lot of effort.
At the 12:22 mark of the game, Kreider redirected Fox’s shot from the right circle, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Later, with 8:26 left in the game, he secured the victory by scoring from Zibanejad’s centering pass while on a penalty-killing duty.
Buffalo introduced its new defensive pair of Power and Rasmus Dahlin, with a combined contract value of $146.45 million. Dahlin inked an eight-year extension worth $88 million on Monday, followed by Power signing a seven-year extension totaling $58.45 million on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the loss marred their debut.
UP NEXT
Rangers: At the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night as part of a season-opening schedule that has New York playing seven of its first nine on the road.
Sabres: At the New York Islanders on Saturday night.
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