Buffalo Sabres Surprise The Rangers In New York

For the third straight game the Buffalo Sabres built an early 3-0 lead and for the second game in a row they held on to win.  Ryan O'Reilly scored a pair of goals less than three minutes apart in the first period and  Zemgus Girgensons scored early in the second period and the Sabres went on to a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers.

After the Rangers finally scored to make it 3-1, Matt Moulson restored Buffalo's 3-goal lead again in the second period.  From there the Sabres held off the Rangers comeback bid despite being outshot for the game 36-24.

Defensemen Casey Nelson and Mark Pysyk each were called for penalties with 7:48 left in the third period giving the Rangers a 5 on 3 power play for a full two minutes and trailing by a goal.  The Sabres allowed just two shots and kept the Rangers off the scoreboard.

Chad Johnson made 33 saves to earn the victory.  The two goals by O'Reilly puts him at the 20-goal mark giving the Sabres four players at that benchmark.

The win ends a nine-game losing streak against the Rangers.  It also marks their first win at Madison Square Garden in more than four years.

The Sabres will remain in the New York area until their next game Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils.