Georgiev helps Rangers stay hot with victory against Sabres

BUFFALO -- Alexandar Georgiev made 36 saves, including 17 in the third period, helping the New York Rangers hold off the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 at KeyBank Center on Friday.

"Felt like there were a lot of shots so I didn't have too much time to think about anything else, just the game," Georgiev said. "Tight score through the whole game. Felt really good to get that win."
Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere scored, and Adam Fox had two assists for the Rangers (18-5-3), who are 8-1-0 in their past nine games.
Brett Murray scored for the Sabres (8-15-3), who have lost six straight (0-5-1) and are 1-9-1 in their past 11.
"I said to the team after, it's obviously a results-oriented business, but we can't worry about that," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "We have to play with that passion, play with that compete, believe in the outcome, get in the moment. Because you start concerning yourself with that, it pulls you out of that competitiveness, especially where we're at, in a fight every night, and doubt creeps in, and you just can't have it. We've had that the last few games and we need to get rid of that. And we started with that tonight."

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 29 saves after making 21 in a 2-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday in his season debut.
"He's been great," Sabres forward Kyle Okposo said. "We've given him one goal in two games. Obviously, that's not enough. He's been fantastic. He made three or four 10-bellers tonight. If he keeps playing like that, he's going to give us a chance to win every night. … He stepped in and played great."
Zibanejad put New York ahead 1-0 on the power play at 4:48 of the first period when he picked up a rebound at the left of the net and lifted it over Luukkonen's pad. It was his first goal since Nov. 5, ending a 14-game drought.
"Of course, it's frustrating when the puck doesn't go in, especially when the chance has been there," Zibanejad said. "But at the same time, it's just a process. And you know, again, the team [comes] first and if I can help with the goals that's great."
Lafreniere popped in a rebound to make it 2-0 at 9:47 of the second period. Luukkonen made the save on Fox's shot from above the right face-off circle, but the rebound bounced out to Lafreniere with an open net on the left side.
Murray cut it to 2-1 at 14:37 of the third, pushing the puck through the five-hole after Mark Pysyk fed him in front from behind the net.
"We have a very competitive group," Sabres forward Tage Thompson said. "Guys want to win, play for each other and I thought you saw that tonight -- not by the result, but by the effort. Guys standing up for each other and working and battling until the end of the game there. If you're doing the little things consistently, wins are going to take care of themselves. It's just making sure we're playing the right way and tonight, I thought we did."

Victor Olofsson scored for Buffalo with Luukkonen pulled for the extra attacker and 57 seconds remaining, but the goal was overturned after video review initiated by the Situation Room determined the play was offside.
"I was really happy with the first period," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "Obviously it was a great period, we didn't give them much at all. We were playing real good hockey. Then, we talk about it a lot in the locker room about changing momentum of the game, and we started turning pucks over again and that gave them momentum. Buffalo works hard, they compete hard, but we gave them a lot of those opportunities in the second period. Self-inflicted wounds, so we've got to be better in those situations. Again, got to get that 60-minute game and we're still working at it."
NOTES: Fox has 100 assists in 151 NHL games and tied Brian Leetch as the second-fastest defenseman to reach the mark in Rangers history (Sergei Zubov, 127).