By JOHN WAWROW
Igor Shesterkin stopped 37 photographs and Alex Lafreniere’s first-period objective stood up because the winner within the New York Rangers’ 4-0 victory over the Sabres in Buffalo’s season-opener Thursday night time.
Mike Sullivan earned his first win as Rangers coach, and the 480th of his profession. Fired after 10 seasons in Pittsburgh final spring, the two-time Stanley Cup-winner took over in New York after Peter Laviolette was fired in April.
Newly named captain J.T. Miller and defensemen Carson Soucy and Adam Fox sealed the win by scoring a objective every over the ultimate 5:14.
Shesterkin’s shutout was the twenty second of his profession, and adopted a 28-save outing, wherein he allowed only one objective in a season-opening 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night time.
Buffalo’s Alex Lyon completed with 29 saves. The offseason free-agent addition obtained the beginning with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on IR on account of a decrease physique damage.
The Sabres have been shut out of their season-opener for simply the fifth time in 55 seasons, and solely second time at house.
Lafreniere, the No. 1 choose within the 2021 draft, now counts 4 profession game-winning targets in opposition to Buffalo.
He opened the scoring 11:43 in by being arrange on the proper submit, the place he slipped the puck into the crease. Lafreniere then out-muscled defenseman Jacob Bryson and used his lengthy attain to comb the puck into the open facet.
Apart from Luukkonenen, the Sabres have been enjoying with out defensemen Owen Energy (sickness) and Michael Kesserling and ahead Zach Benson, who took a puck off the cheek in apply on Wednesday.
Rangers ahead Vincent Trochek didn’t return after sustaining an upper-body damage within the second interval.
UP NEXT
Rangers: At Pittsburgh on Saturday night time.
Sabres: At Boston on Saturday night time.
