BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabres are already playing from behind at the start of a 15th season since their last playoff run.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves in a 4-0 shutout victory Thursday night, as the Sabres struggled to generate scoring chances early and sputtered on power plays to squander the hopeful spirit of a sold-out gathering at KeyBank Center.
Alex Lyon stopped 29 shots for the Sabres, who began the season with starting goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Buffalo also played without defensemen Owen Power and Michael Kesselring, along with forwards Zach Benson and Jordan Greenway. And top-line center Josh Norris left the game early with an upper-body injury.
The Rangers took the lead in the first period when Alexis Lafreniére jammed a rebound past Lyon, having controlled possession with an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal in the opening 12 minutes. Carson Soucy, J.T. Miller and Adam Fox added goals for New York in the final five minutes of the third period.
The Sabres are on the road at Boston on Saturday night before returning home to host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.