Peterka scores lone goal in Sabres’ season-opening loss to Rangers 

JJ Peterka scored the lone goal for the Buffalo Sabres in a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers inside KeyBank Center on Thursday.

The Rangers built a 3-0 lead before Peterka put the Sabres on the board with 1:30 remaining in the second period. The goal was the product of an Owen Power shot that was blocked by Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba but sent in Peterka’s direction, allowing him to send a quick shot past goaltender Igor Shesterkin. 

Sabres coach Don Granato pointed to the play as an example of what his team could have done more of against a defensively disciplined opponent.

“If you look at the goal, it was a shot,” Granato said. “And any chances we had, there was a shot prior, and it creates a random situation we can jump on. That pulls a team that wants to be in that defensive structure out of it. We didn’t do that enough tonight.”

The Rangers clogged the neutral zone with a 1-3-1 structure and closed shooting lanes in their own zone. They blocked 23 of the Sabres’ 60 shot attempts, including eight by Trouba, and were successful on all three of their penalty kill attempts.

Sabres captain Kyle Okposo said beating their structure requires simplification. 

“We’re going to face teams that play that system,” Okposo said. “We’ll talk about it. We’ll figure out a way to make sure that we’re feeling good because I don’t think anybody in this room felt good tonight going into that game and throughout that game. So, we’ve got a find a way in our system to feel good and that’s simplifying our game.”

Chris Kreider scored twice for the Rangers while Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin each had a goal and an assist. Trouba added an empty-net goal late.

Devon Levi made 25 saves for the Sabres. Shesterkin stopped 23 shots in the opposite net.

Here’s the breakdown from the season opener.

How it happened

PERIOD 1

The Rangers opened the scoring 3:47 into the game after a turnover at center ice. Levi made the initial save on a shot from the right side, but Panarin collected the rebound and passed it over to Lafreniere for a shot into an open net.

Kreider tipped a shot from Adam Fox on the power play to double New York's lead with 7:38 remaining. The opportunity came after a hooking call against Zach Benson, whose stick appeared to be held by Fox. 

"His stick was being held, so that was unfortunate for him that that call went that direction," Granato said. "I think it was an error."

The Sabres held an 11-6 advantage in hits during the period, including one from Rasmus Dahlin that took Filip Chytil’s legs out from under him. Connor Clifton and Mattias Samuelsson led the group with two hits each.

PERIOD 2

Panarin picked up a loose puck in the Buffalo zone and ripped a shot from the high slot to extend the Rangers’ lead to 3-0 with 7:11 left in the second.

Peterka sent a shot over the shoulder of Shesterkin to put the Sabres on the board with 1:30 remaining.

PERIOD 3

The Sabres nearly pulled within one on a power play, but an attempt from Jeff Skinner deflected down off the crossbar and away from the net. Instead, Mika Zibanejad found Kreider in front to put the Rangers up 4-1 with a shorthanded goal.

Trouba tallied an empty-net goal to close out the scoring with 1:29 remaining.

What we learned

1. The Sabres honored Rick Jeanneret in a pregame ceremony that opened with a video remembering the Hall-of-Fame broadcaster, who passed away in August at age 81.

Watch the tribute below.

2. Sandra Jeanneret dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff surrounded by other members of the Jeanneret family and the entirety of the Sabres team.

3. Prior to the game, the Sabres and the Buffalo Common Council unveiled a Trailblazing Sign on the corner of Perry Street and Illinois Street designating the route as “RJ Way.” Watch the ceremony, including remarks from Sandra Jeanneret and City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, below.

4. The Buffalo Bills were in the building as part of a sellout crowd of 19,070 for opening night. Safety Damar Hamlin banged the drum to lead a “Let’s Go Buffalo” chant before the opening faceoff.

Quarterback Josh Allen, tight end Dawson Knox, and wide receiver Gabriel Davis watched the game along with Hamlin from the suite level. Allen, who wore an Alex Tuch jersey, even got to meet Blue.

5. Benson skated 14:27 and tallied two shots in his NHL debut. His night began with a rookie solo lap to open warmups.

“It’s a pretty surreal moment,” he said. “You dream of playing your first NHL game. The thing that I kind of just take away is honestly just keep raising my intensity, keep getting better. It’s really what you take out of the game.”

Up Next

The Sabres visit the New York Islanders on Saturday for a matchup at UBS Arena. Coverage on MSG/MSG+ begins at 7 p.m. while the puck drops at 7:30 on MSG and WGR 550.

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