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Rangers find a way to win over the Sabres 3-1, bring on the Isles

By Steve Paulus

Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save on Vitali Kravtsov #74 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save on Vitali Kravtsov #74 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save against the Buffalo Sabres. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save against the Buffalo Sabres. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

My 3 Ranger stars

Igor Shesterkin

played a fabulous game, making a number of difficult stops.  He was the best player on the ice for the Rangers in the first period.  He finished with 36 saves with the 37 shots  he faced the fourth most this season.

  • Brendan Smith revitalized the Rangers with his second period goal.  It broke the scoreless tie and the Rangers were dominant after he scored.  In the third period he drew a penalty after a big hit on Tage Thompson when he was cross checked in retaliation for the hit.

    • Ryan Strome

    gets the third star for his two absolutely crucial assists.  The game winning goal by  Alexis Lafrenière was all Strome as he won the puck battle and got the puck to a wide open Lafrenière.

    The official 3 stars

    1. Igor Shesterkin
    2. Brendan Smith
    3. Alexis Lafrenière

    The playoff picture

    The playoff picture got tighter for the Islanders as they have scored 14 goals in their last 11 games, not including their six goal outburst against the Rangers.  They’ve now been shut out three times in their last six games.

    The Bruins stayed four points up on the Rangers, but with two games in hand and a favorable schedule, the odds are in their favor.

    Tuesday’s games

    Rangers 3, Sabres 1
    Capitals 1, Islanders 0
    Bruins 3, Penguins 1
    Devils 6, Flyers 4

    Standings
    1- Washington       49     32-13-4      68 points
    2- Pittsburgh          50    32-15-3      67 points
    3-  Islanders            49     29-15-5      63 points
    4- Boston                48     28-14-6      62 points
    5- Rangers              50     26-18-6      58 points
    6–Philadelphia       49     22-20-7      51 points
    7- New Jersey *      49    15-27-7      37 points
    8- Buffalo*              50    13-30-7       33 points

    * Eliminated from the playoffs

    What’s next

    The Rangers play Thursday and Saturday against the Islanders.  Enough said.

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