Sabres top Rangers in shootout, get second win in three games after skid

BUFFALO -- Linus Ullmark made 28 saves to help the Buffalo Sabres defeat the New York Rangers 3-2 in the shootout at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

Tage Thompson scored the only goal in the shootout after Buffalo tied it 2-2 when Victor Olofsson scored from the top of the slot with 3:41 left in the third period.
The Sabres lost 3-2 to the Rangers in overtime Thursday to open the two-game set here.
"We were disappointed with some things the other day," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "Our internal demand, our personal standard, we didn't hit the other day for whatever reason. We spoke of it after the game, and I believe the guys took that to heart and elevated and fought through a lot in this game. There were emotions and things that could be very emotional within the context of the game, and we battled right through it, stayed right on it, and we were rewarded for it."
Casey Mittelstadt scored for the Sabres (8-23-6), who have won two of three games since losing 18 in a row, the longest stretch without a victory since the shootout was implemented in 2005-06, eliminating ties. Buffalo is 2-0-2 in its past four.
"Even through the losing streak it was so tough, but the boys were sticking together and working hard and trying to play together," Mittelstadt said. "And then obviously the last few games it's all come together and we're playing a lot better. You can feel it on the bench, just the belief and the battle out of everyone. Just the mood in the locker room has been great, so something to build on definitely. We've still got a long way to go."

Artemi Panarin scored twice, and Adam Fox had two assists for the Rangers (17-15-5). Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves.
"Tonight it was about our breakdowns," New York coach David Quinn said. "We lost a wall battle, turned it over. I thought we backed off a little too much, which I thought we did a lot tonight. I thought we just gave them way too much room tonight, didn't pressure the puck. I thought they came through the neutral zone way too easy. I thought the tying goal was just the result of lose a wall battle, turn it over, their guy got it in the high slot. … That's something we've got to do a better job of, for sure."

Panarin put New York ahead 1-0 on the power play, taking advantage of a collision between Ullmark and Sabres defenseman Jacob Bryson in the crease to score from the right wall at 10:02 of the first period.
Fox's assist extended his point streak to 10 games (two goals, 16 assists).
"I just try and play well," the defenseman said. "I thought at the beginning of the year the points weren't really coming, but I was playing well. Now they come, and sometimes in bunches, and that's kind of what's happening. Just try and play well every night, and points come when they come."
Mittelstadt tied it 1-1 at 13:01 when he kept the puck on a 2-on-1 with Taylor Hall before beating Shesterkin from the right face-off circle.
"I think 2-on-1, especially the way I play, I'm looking to pass," Mittelstadt said. "It's usually a bit of an easier goal for Taylor there. But the [defenseman] just took the puck away, I picked my head and up picked my spot to shoot, and luckily I made a nice shot and it went in."

Panarin one-timed a pass from Fox in the left circle to put the Rangers in front 2-1 at 17:52 of the second period.
"I wasn't concerned about our guys psychologically at all," Granato said. "I was concerned about the score and being down to the degree that you can be concerned about that. But I felt our guys were executing what they should be executing. … They really knew they were playing well and they knew they could elevate. So, all I mentioned to them was, 'You've got another level, you know it, and let's find it and let's enjoy it. Let's embrace this. This is fun.'"
NOTES: Fox is the fifth defenseman in Rangers history to have a point streak of at least 10 games, joining Brian Leetch (four times), Reijo Ruotsalainen, Brad Park and Ron Greschner. … New York forward Ryan Strome had his point streak end at 11 games. … Forward Vitali Kravtsov, selected by the Rangers in the first round (No. 9) of the 2018 NHL Draft, played 10:45 and had three shots in his NHL debut. Ullmark made a lunging save on Kravtsov's diving backhand with 2:04 left in the third. … The Sabres won for the first time this season when trailing after two periods (1-20-1). ... Ullmark's .868 shootout save percentage ranks first in NHL history (minimum 10 shootout games).