Opening a crucial stretch of games without two of their best players in the lineup, the New York Rangers simply couldn’t do enough to cool off the red-hot Buffalo Sabres in a frustrating 5-2 loss Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Down 3-2, yet dominating play in the third period, the Rangers had a prime chance to grab this game by the throat and find a way to author a signature comeback victory. Buffalo’s Peyton Krebs drew blood when he high-sticked Vincent Trocheck in the mouth, and was assessed a double-minor penalty at 14:24, handing New York a four-minute power play.