Rangers score twice in eight seconds in win against Sabres

BUFFALO -- Vladislav Namestnikov had two goals and an assist, and the New York Rangers scored twice in eight seconds in the third period to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 at KeyBank Center on Friday.

Boo Nieves, Jesper Fast, Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich also scored for the Rangers (25-24-8), who trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by nine points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves for his third straight win.
"I think that's good to see all the guys score, a lot of guys get rewarded," said Namestnikov, who ended a 23-game goal drought dating to Dec. 18. "I thought we played a good 60 minutes. We weathered the storm there in the third, but overall we're happy with our game."
WATCH: [All Rangers vs. Sabres highlights]
Jeff Skinner scored twice for the Sabres (28-22-7), who are four points behind Pittsburgh and haven't won consecutive games since Dec. 11 and 13. Linus Ullmark made 23 saves.
"It's very disappointing because I feel we were taking a step in the right direction," Buffalo coach Phil Housley said. "We were trending in a good direction. You have to understand desperation at this time of the season, and every shift counts, every play counts, the details of the game."
With a delayed penalty call coming to the Sabres, Nieves put the Rangers ahead 1-0 at 4:09 of the first period when he beat Kyle Okposo and Johan Larsson to a loose puck in the high slot.
Fast tipped in Namestnikov's shot from the blue line to make it 2-0 at 14:03.

Uncovered at the inner hash marks of the left circle, Skinner narrowed it to 2-1 with his 35th of the season 53 seconds into the second period. But the Rangers quickly regained their two-goal lead, with Vesey pushing the puck in short side at 1:51 to make it 3-1.
Skinner pulled the Sabres within one again at 16:56 on the power play with his 36th, a shot from the high slot that brought it to 3-2. Skinner is second behind Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 39.
"When we get our opportunities we have to sort of bear down and build off the momentum it creates," Skinner said. "It just seems that we have our breakdowns and we aren't able to recover, and we aren't able to get back in. We have to get some of that confidence back and simplify our game a little bit and then we can chip away."

Buchnevich put the Rangers up 4-2 when he redirected Kevin Hayes' shot at the left side of the net at 15:59 of the third period.
Namestnikov extended the lead to 5-2 eight seconds later, at 16:07, and scored into an empty net at 19:02 for the 6-2 final.
"I'm really happy for Vladdy because he's played two great games," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "I thought that Winnipeg game (a 4-3 loss Tuesday) he had some great chances. The chances he's had he hasn't been able to capitalize on them."

They said it

"Being his age, 23, playing in the National Hockey League as a goalie, that's young. He's a lot better today than he was in October. He's got an incredible mental makeup, he has great physical skills, and that's why we feel about him the way we do. I'm not surprised at what he's doing." -- Rangers coach David Quinn on goalie Alexandar Georgiev
"Obviously we have to string some games together here. It's coming down to the home stretch. Consistency is something we've kind of been up and down with this year, so we definitely have to find it if we're going to give ourselves a chance."-- Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian

Need to know

Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei left in the second period with a lower-body injury. Quinn said he's day to day and might play Sunday against the Penguins. … The Rangers record for fastest two goals is four seconds, set Oct. 19, 2014 against the San Jose Sharks. … Forward Connor Brickley, recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Thursday, made his Rangers debut. He had two shots and three hits in 8:23. … The Rangers have scored at least three goals in 11 of their past 15 games. … Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin got 26th assist of the season, the second-highest total by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history after Housley (40). … Dahlin's 32 points are third-most in NHL history by an 18-year-old defenseman, behind Housley (57) and Bobby Orr (38). … Skinner is the fifth player to score at least 35 goals in his first season with the Sabres (Pat LaFontaine, 46, 1991-92; Richard Martin, 44, 1971-72; Gilbert Perreault, 38, 1970-71; Ray Sheppard, 38, 1987-88).

What's next

Rangers: At the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV)
Sabres: At the New Jersey Devils on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; MSG+, MSG-B, NHL.TV)