Henrik keeps Rangers rollin’

Henrik Lundqvist was in vintage form in helping the Rangers get a big win.

Lundqvist stopped 39 shots and Jimmy Vesey scored twice to lead the Blueshirts to their third straight victory, 3-1, over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night.

“Hank was outstanding tonight,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “We managed a way to get it done. I thought the third period we did a pretty good job of manag- ing the puck and getting it behind them.”

Neal Pionk also scored for the Rangers, and rookie Brett Howden picked up his sixth assist of the season before leaving with an injury in the second period.

“I think we earned this type of game,” Lundqvist said. “Then in the third, I think we played our best period. Tonight, we made some really strong plays at the right time.”

Lundqvist was stellar while picking up his fourth win of the season and 435th of his career, moving just two behind Jacques Plante for seventh place on the NHL’s all-time list.

Conor Sheary scored for Buffalo and Carter Hutton made 19 saves.

The Rangers made the most of their first two shots in the second period, scoring twice within 19 seconds.

“We capitalized on a few chances we had and that was the difference in the game,” Vesey said.

Pionk scored 41 seconds into the period when his wrist shot sailed past Hutton. Vladislav Namestnikov and Mika Zibanejad assisted on the play. On the Rangers’ next shot, Vesey snapped off a wrist shot from the slot to make it 2-0. Howden made a nifty drop pass to set up his linemate.

Howden crashed hard into the boards later in the second before he was helped off the ice with 6 1/2 minutes remaining. He did not return.

Lundqvist appeared to get hurt late in the second when Rasmus Dahlin, the first overall pick in June’s draft, collided with him. However, after an extended look from the trainer, Lundqvist remained in the game.

Sheary took advantage of a turnover by Brendan Smith to pull the Sabres within one as he scored off his own rebound at 6:07 of the third.