Sabres erase multiple deficits, extend point streak in OT loss to Rangers

NEW YORK - Kyle Okposo was unhappy with the outcome, a 5-4 overtime loss to the New York Rangers inside Madison Square Garden.
But the Sabres' veteran leader could not ignore the positives for a young team that battled back from multiple deficits while extending its point streak to five games (3-0-2) on Sunday.
"We're starting to figure out how to play every game," Okposo said. "And that's something that's a very hard thing to do. I'm not saying that we're there yet, because we're not. But we're starting to show some glimpses of it where we're sticking to our game no matter what."

Buffalo trailed 2-0 less than five minutes into the contest after New York forward Frank Vatrano struck with two goals scored 18 seconds apart.
The Sabres settled down and clawed their way to a one-goal lead before falling behind again, 4-3, during the third period. Jeff Skinner scored a power-play goal to tie the game with 6:53 remaining in regulation.
"Maybe in some other circumstances an immature team would kind of pack it in maybe," Skinner said. "I think we did a good job of staying in it and continuing to press for that next one."
Sabres coach Don Granato sensed his players were fighting through tiredness, having gone to overtime in four straight contests dating back to the middle game of their Western Canada road trip in Calgary on March 18. He felt it showed in the mistakes that fed the Rangers' transition to open the game.
The top line of Skinner, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch - which Okposo referred to as the team's offensive backbone of late - was on the ice for both Rangers goals to start the game. Skinner credited his fellow forward lines with being there to right the ship.
"We stuck with it," he said. "Our line was out there for those first two quick goals. I thought the rest of the team did a good job of picking us back up and slowly kind of our way back into the game."

Rasmus Asplund scored to cut the 2-0 deficit in half before the first intermission. The Sabres tied the game on a Will Butcher shot from the high slot early in the second period, then pulled ahead on a powerful drive to the net from Okposo less than five minutes later.
"We're down 2-0 five minutes into the game and it's a tough building, loud building," Okposo said. "They push hard right away and I thought we just did a really good job of calming down and settling into our game."
Alexis Lafreniere answered for the Rangers before the end of the period, putting the Sabres in a familiar situation - their fifth straight game entering the third period tied.
Artemi Panarin buried a rebound to put the Rangers ahead, 4-3 - one of nine shots the Rangers would take on goaltender Craig Anderson before the Sabres generated their first of the period.

Still, Okposo sensed comfort from his teammates in the heat of the moment. They weathered the push, earned their lone power play of the game on a high-sticking penalty drawn by Zemgus Girgensons, and tied the game when Rasmus Dahlin drove to the net and created the opportunity for Skinner's goal.
"We looked sloppy on the power play and stuck with it, stuck with it," Granato said. "Dahls made a nice play entering the zone and Skinny was opportunistic, and we get a point out of it."
K'Andre Miller scored the winning goal in overtime, costing the Sabres a second point. The one they did get was a testament to their growing sense of identity.
"That's the mark of the truly good teams in this league and we're showing signs of getting there," Okposo said. "By no means is it a finished product."

Up next

The Sabres visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Coverage on MSG begins at 8 p.m. The puck drops at 8:30.