Skinner scores in overtime to help Sabers beat Rangers 3-2

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jeff Skinner scored 1:50 into overtime and the Buffalo Sabers beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Friday night.

JJ Peterka and Jordan Greenway also scored for the Sabres, who recovered after giving up a 2-0 lead to improve to 3-0-1 in their last four games. Devon Levi made 32 saves in his NHL debut to help Buffalo move five points behind Pittsburgh for the second Eastern Conference wild card.

“I thought our guys would work hard to support (Levi) on his first night,” Sabers coach Don Granato said. “I thought they did a good job with that, allowing him to get into the game and feel things out. He was very good.

Kaapo Kakko and Adam Fox scored for New York, which has lost two straight but moved three points behind second-place New Jersey in the Metropolitan Division. Jaroslav Halak made 31 saves.

“We had a chance to score a few goals, but we didn’t play well,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “We had a line there tonight and we played hard every shift. That was it and we were lucky to get a point.

During the overtime period, Skinner collected the puck after a pass from Owen Power, skated between two defenders and fired a shot past Halak. It was Skinner’s 32nd goal of the season.

“They had a little stick on (the puck), I tried to hold on to it,” Skinner said. “It was rolling around a little bit, so I just tried to put some good wood on it, and luckily it found the hole there.”

Levi, who played at Northeastern University the past two seasons, signed a three-year entry-level contract on March 17.

“It was a dream come true, I’ve dreamed of this moment my whole life,” Levi said. “Having my family and friends here as well who have dreamed of this moment their whole lives with me, it’s just amazing to have that support.”

Peterka gave the Sabers a 1-0 lead with 8:40 left in the first period when he buried a no-look backhand pass from Dylan Cozens for his 11th.

Greenway made it 2-0 at 7:39 of the second when he received a pass from Casey Mittelstadt on the right side and fired a one-handed shot past Halak for his fourth.

Kakko got the Rangers on the scoreboard when he knocked a floating puck past Levi after Filip Chytil’s shot was blocked with 7:43 remaining in the middle period.

Fox tied it 2-2 when he fired a loose puck in a net-front scrum past Levi at 9:45 of the third for his 12th.

“We kind of get into the rhythm of the game and then we start playing, but it’s not going to work,” Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. “This is not a sustainable way to play hockey. It’s something we’re going to have to get better at and continue to get better at.

FOLLOWING

Rangers: At Washington on Sunday in the finale of a three-game road trip.

Sabres: At Philadelphia on Saturday night to open a three-game road trip.

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