Marcus Foligno scored twice and Jhonas Enroth came up with 32 saves, lifting the Sabres (10-14-3, 23 pts.) to a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers. The win snapped a four-game winless streak for Buffalo. Foligno's goals marked the first time he found the net since a January 27th loss at Washington. Enroth picked up his first victory since November 26th, 2011 against the Capitals.
After a scoreless opening period, Derek Stepan got the Rangers on the board first, stuffing home a shorthanded chance. It highlighted yet another uninspired Sabres' power play, one that also saw the team get called for icing. Stepan connected on a Ryan Callahan pass from behind the net to give New York the 1-0 lead. It would only remain that way for just 1:18, thanks to Foligno's second goal of the season. Camped out to the left of Lundqvist, Foligno jammed a loose puck under the goaltender's pad to make it a 1-1 game.
Later in the second period, Jason Pominville banked a perfect long pass off the boards right onto the stick of Thomas Vanek. With no one standing between him and Lundqvist, Vanek finished off a clean-cut breakaway, roofing a shot past the Rangers netminder to put Buffalo ahead 2-1.
Foligno made it a 3-1 game with his second goal of the evening at 11:48 of the final period. Again parked to the left of Lundqvist, Foligno poked home an Andrej Sekera rebound to give Buffalo a two-goal cushion with a little over eight minutes remaining. The Sabres were able to hang on for the victory, thanks in part to 18 third-period saves by Enroth, their first since a March 2nd win over New Jersey.
The Sabres are now off until Saturday afternoon when they host the Ottawa Senators at 3 p.m. Hear the call on WGR 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network with Rick Jeanneret and Rob Ray.
The Sabres are now off until Saturday afternoon when they host the Ottawa Senators at 3 p.m. Hear the call on WGR 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network with Rick Jeanneret and Rob Ray.
1st Period
Goals
None
Penalties
None
2nd Period
Goals
4:17 - NYR - Derek Stepan (SHG) (7) (Ryan Callahan)
5:35 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (2) (Christian Ehrhoff, Andrej Sekera)
12:40 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (14) (Jason Pominville, Cody Hodgson)
Penalties
2:30 - NYR - Darroll Powe (2 min., tripping)
9:50 - NYR - Jeff Halpern (2 min., slashing)
14:07 - NYR - Matt Gilroy (2 min., tripping)
16:43 - NYR - Dan Girardi (2 min., tripping)
3rd Period
Goals
11:48 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (3) (Andrej Sekera, Brian Flynn)
Penalties
6:36 - NYR - Carl Hagelin (2 min., high-sticking)
8:50 - BUF - Jochen Hecht (2 min., holding)
Goaltending
NYR - Henrik Lundqvist (19 saves, 22 shots)
BUF - Jhonas Enroth (32 saves, 33 shots)
Power Plays
NYR - 0 of 1
BUF - 0 of 5
Three Stars
1.) BUF - Marcus Foligno (2 G, 0 A)
2.) BUF - Jhonas Enroth (32 saves)
3.) BUF - Andrej Sekera (0 G, 2 A)
None
2nd Period
Goals
4:17 - NYR - Derek Stepan (SHG) (7) (Ryan Callahan)
5:35 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (2) (Christian Ehrhoff, Andrej Sekera)
12:40 - BUF - Thomas Vanek (14) (Jason Pominville, Cody Hodgson)
Penalties
2:30 - NYR - Darroll Powe (2 min., tripping)
9:50 - NYR - Jeff Halpern (2 min., slashing)
14:07 - NYR - Matt Gilroy (2 min., tripping)
16:43 - NYR - Dan Girardi (2 min., tripping)
3rd Period
Goals
11:48 - BUF - Marcus Foligno (3) (Andrej Sekera, Brian Flynn)
Penalties
6:36 - NYR - Carl Hagelin (2 min., high-sticking)
8:50 - BUF - Jochen Hecht (2 min., holding)
Goaltending
NYR - Henrik Lundqvist (19 saves, 22 shots)
BUF - Jhonas Enroth (32 saves, 33 shots)
Power Plays
NYR - 0 of 1
BUF - 0 of 5
Three Stars
1.) BUF - Marcus Foligno (2 G, 0 A)
2.) BUF - Jhonas Enroth (32 saves)
3.) BUF - Andrej Sekera (0 G, 2 A)
