Rangers blow 3rd-period lead, fall 5-3 to Sabres in MSG finale: takeaways
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images The New York Rangers had the chance to put an emphatic exclamation point on the home portion of their schedule Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. But like so many other times this season, they failed to get the job done on home ice, falling to the Buffalo Sabres 5-3. The Rangers (33-37-9) were rejuvenated at MSG down the stretch, winning five of six coming into this finale of a season-long seven-game homestand.
And it appeared the Rangers were going to take down, perhaps, the hottest team in the NHL on Wednesday, holding a 3-2 lead early in the third period. But the Sabres (48-23-8) scored three unanswered goals in the final period — by Alex Tuch, Jason Tucker, and Zach Benson — to earn the comeback victory and move into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo held New York to one shot on goal in the third period, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished with 17 saves.
TWO SABRES GOALS IN 1:29. WAGON. 😤 📺: @NHL_On_TNT & @StreamOnMax ➡️ https://t.
co/4TuyIATi3T pic. twitter. com/HlitwLI25w — NHL (@NHL) April 9, 2026 Alexis Lafreniere scored twice for the Rangers, who’ll play their final three games of the 2025-26 season on the road.
Adam Fox had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to eight games. Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 of 26 shots in the loss. The Rangers spotted the Sabres two goals in the opening nine minutes of play, before scoring three straight to carry a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
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