Rangers slip past Sabres 3-2 in shootout

[March 04, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Rick Nash had a goal and assist and also scored in the shootout to lead the New York Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night.

Ryan Callahan also scored for New York in the shootout. Derek Stepan added a goal, and Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves. New York has won two in a row.

Drew Stafford and Nathan Gerbe scored for Buffalo. Ryan Miller stopped 26 of 28 shots. The Sabres' season-high three-game winning streak was ended.

New York received a scare 3:28 into the third when Brad Richards was shoved from behind into the half boards by Sabres right wing Patrick Kaleta. Kaleta was assessed a five-minute major for checking from behind and was given a game misconduct.

Richards was on the ice for nearly two minutes before being helped to the bench. He returned to the game.

Nash and Callahan scored in the shootout while Jason Pominville and Tyler Ennis missed for Buffalo.

It was Buffalo's third straight game that ended in a shootout. The Sabres had won the previous two.

Stepan's power-play goal seven seconds after the penalty tied the game at 1-1.

Stepan one-timed a diagonal Nash pass over Miller for his second power-play goal of the season. The New York center screamed after the puck hit the back of the net.

Forty-three seconds later, on the same power play, Nash gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead with his fifth of the season.

Nathan Gerbe tied it at 2-2 at 8:19 of the third period on a nice pass from Steve Ott.

Stafford's goal 8:04 into the second period opened the scoring. Rookie center Mikhail Grigorenko beat Richards on an offensive zone faceoff, winning the puck back to Stafford. The Buffalo right wing's snap shot appeared to deflect off a stick and fluttered past Lundqvist.

NOTES: Buffalo left wing Thomas Vanek missed the game with an undisclosed injury. Vanek also missed the Sabres' 4-3 shootout win over the Devils on Saturday. Vanek is tied for third in the league with 27 points. ... Defenseman T.J. Brennan and left wing John Scott were healthy scratches for the Sabres. New York scratched defenseman Matt Gilroy and right wing Arron Asham.

[Associated Press; By DENIS GORMAN]

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