BUFFALO — Lately, the Rangers have been finding ways to lose instead of finding ways to win.
In a low-event game between two spiraling teams, however, Igor Shesterkin and the Blueshirts effectively defended a one-goal lead for a majority of the 60-minute affair before taking a 3-2 victory over the Sabres Wednesday night at KeyBank Center.
The Rangers avoided a third straight loss, while also handing the Sabres their eighth in a row.
Shesterkin picked up his first win since signing an NHL-record contract for a goaltender — eight years at $11.5 million per year — this past weekend.
Stopping 28 of the 30 shots he faced, the star Russian netminder improved to 10-10-1 on the season.
The Sabres, sitting in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, missed the net a lot.
Following a scoreless middle frame, defenseman Connor Clifton rang one off the post in the third period.
All of Buffalo’s best chances, however, were not taken advantage of or simply executed poorly.
The KeyBank Center crowd ensured their displeasure was heard, while Rangers fans in attendance got some supportive chants in before they were drowned out by boos.
Still, the Rangers defended better than they have despite losing K’Andre Miller before the start of the third period.
He was ruled out for the remainder of the game with an upper-body injury.
Reilly Smith then scored his third goal in the past four games to give the Rangers some insurance.
It was ultimately an imperative goal, after Owen Power cut the Rangers’ lead in half with 4:51 left in regulation.
The Sabres pulled their goalie with over two minutes to go, but Adam Fox hurled his first goal of the season into an empty net from the corner of the Rangers zone.
It was ultimately the game-winner as Tage Thompson made it a one-goal game with less than a minute left.
The Rangers played a solid first period, over which they outshot the Sabres 11-7 and emerged with a 1-0 lead.
Getting to the middle of the ice and winning puck battles, the visitors managed to draw two penalties through the opening 20 minutes.
They capitalized on the first just over seven minutes into the game, when Artemi Panarin fed Mika Zibanejad for just his second power-play goal of the season.
Zibanejad was active in all three zones in the win, totaling a goal, five shots and two hits.
Special teams became a factor early, with the Sabres earning a power play just 20 seconds after puck drop.
The Rangers came out on top in both categories, fending off both of Buffalo’s power plays and going 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
Through their two power plays, the Sabres didn’t register a single shot on goal.
