Rangers Run Over Sabres To Snap Five-Game Skid

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The Rangers hadn’t won a game in almost two weeks, and they were due to get back in the win column. During the losing streak, we saw the Rangers play a lot of sloppy hockey and weren’t able to put together a 60-minute performance. It may not have been perfect, but the Blueshirts were able to put it all together in a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Artemiy Panarin – The Russian, who goes by the nickname “Bread Man,” scored a gorgeous goal to get the Blueshirts off and running. Panarin stole the puck from Rasmus Dahlin in the neutral zone, came in on Carter Hutton, and made a forehand-backhand move to give the Rangers the 1-0 lead.

Panarin’s goal was his fifth of the season and his seventh point through his first eight games with the Blueshirts. We all knew that Panarin was going to be a dynamic threat in the offensive zone. But what has been surprising is his work on the defensive side of the puck. Panarin is a puck hound in all three zones, and he used that tenacity to score the game’s opening goal.

Ryan Strome – The Rangers center had his best game of the season in this one, recording a pair of goals in the victory. Strome’s first came in the final minute of the first period, when he redirected the point shot from Brady Skjei for the eventual game-winner.

Strome capped off his strong night with a second tally coming midway through the third. With both Chris Kreider and Jeff Skinner in the box and the teams skating 4v4, Brett Howden raced up the ice with Strome and delivered a gorgeous pass for Strome to deposit behind Hutton.

Brett Howden – The sophomore center scored his second tally of the season, cleaning up the loose puck in front of the net for the team’s second goal of the game. After Brendan Lemieux and Jesper Fast won the board battle, Fast tapped the puck over to Howden. Howden’s initial try was stopped but he stayed with it for the goal.

Both Howden and Strome have been a topic of conversation amongst Rangers fans, with many feeling that Lias Andersson should be given more ice time over Howden and Strome. But, if Strome and Howden can continue playing the way they both did in this one, then Andersson will have to do something really special to get off of the fourth line.

Tony DeAngelo – It has been quite the week for the now 24-year-old blueliner. DeAngelo, who scored both Rangers goals in Tuesday night’s loss, scored the team’s fourth goal by finishing Pavel Buchnevich’s feed from the goal line.

DeAngelo has always been a solid offensive defenseman. But his defensive game has improved immensely, making him a very good defenseman for today’s NHL.

Chris Kreider – It’s been a rough start to the season for the veteran winger, who had just two points entering the contest. And while it may not have impacted the end result, Chris Kreider finally got his first goal of the season. Kreider’s goal came when his shot was kicked out by Carter Hutton, but the puck deflected off of Girgensons and into the net.

The goal gave Adam Fox his first NHL point, with the Jericho, NY native getting the primary assist on the tally.

Henrik Lundqvist – Both Buffalo goals came on mid-long range wrist shots, and Henrik will want at least one of them back, but it was a solid night for King Henrik. Lundqvist stopped 31 of the 33 Sabres shots, as he earned his second win of the season.

Next Game: The Rangers will look to build on this win when they host the Boston Bruins on Sunday night. Puck drops at 7!

LETS GO RANGERS!!

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