HIGH MARKS
BUFFALO — It started just where it has for the past dozen years, in nets with a big-time performance by Henrik Lundqvist, before it ended at the other end of the ice on Chris Kreider’s overtime conversion of J.T. Miller’s gorgeous feed for the Rangers’ 2-1 victory over the Sabres on Thursday night.
“You know, there’s been so much talk about Henrik this year it’s almost comical,” Miller told The Post after his cross-ice setup at 3:56. “He’s one of the best in the world, if not the best. He’s going to play well. No one in here has any doubts.”
Coming off Tuesday’s relapse, in which he was pulled for the fourth time after allowing three goals on 16 shots in 23:42 to the Blue Jackets, Lundqvist was sharp from the outset in facing 37 Sabres shots. The King was aggressive, more on his toes and on top of his crease in challenging shooters than he has been through parts of this unusual season. And he stood his ground when the Sabres banged at pucks at his feet and in his pads.
“I battled. I battled hard,” said Lundqvist, beaten only by Cody Franson’s game-tying wrist shot from the high slot at 14:29 of the third period. “As I’ve said, my game is right there. It’s just a matter of consistency. I play four or five good games and then take a step back with a ‘C’ game.
“I need more ‘B’s.’ I feel have the ‘A’s,’ but when I drop it has to be to a ‘B,’ not a‘C.’ I know my game’s right there. I’m not overthinking it. When I’ve been bad, I’ve been really bad. You have to own up to it and try to do better.”
The Rangers played their typical strong game on the road, where they are 18-7 overall, 7-1 in the past eight and 11-2 in the past 13. Rick Nash was dominant, a man possessed when he possessed the puck. Jimmy Vesey, moved up to the left with Nash and Derek Stepan, had his most forceful game in months. Michael Grabner was flying throughout.
“I couldn’t buy one, but I felt it,” said Nash, who had three shots on six attempts, including one post, in 19:36. “I could feel my hands and legs going together. I’m looking to build on this.”
The defense was solid, with Marc Staal notably improved from Tuesday’s performance. That night was his first game back after missing nine with postconcussion symptoms. Kevin Klein, who has had a difficult year, was stout. Ryan McDonagh was quietly in control all night.
“We’ve talked as a players’ group about the home-road split and how we need to simplify it at home so that we’re the same team as we are on the road,” Nash said. “We’re such a solid team on the road that’s hard to play against.”
The game was scoreless until 17:50 of the second, when Mats Zuccarello deflected McDonagh’s power-play drive past Robin Lehner, who was excellent in the Buffalo nets. It remained 1-0 for another 16:39. But it was a game in which both teams created chances after a slow start, through which there were 33 faceoffs in the opening 23:53.
“And there were Grade ‘A’ chances for both sides,” said Miller, perhaps the best pure passer on his team. “Great goaltending.”
Lundqvist made a series of stops against Sam Reinhart and Brian Gionta through the first two periods on down-low setups and on net-crashing early in the third period. He battled through traffic to stop Rasmus Ristolainen’s drive from the slot 6:15 into the third. And the netminder was brilliant in going post-to-post to deny Kyle Okposo’s drive from the right porch 35 seconds into OT.
“Hank is one of the most com- petitive guys I’ve ever been around at a rink,” Miller said. “When he makes a quality save, the whole bench feels it. By the same token, when we get a big goal, that lifts him. Believe me, no in here is worried about Henrik. No one.”
So now it is back to the Garden for Lundqvist and the Rangers, who open a four-game homestand against the Western Conference with Sunday afternoon’s visit by the Flames. Back home after this performance in which Professor Lundqvist gave himself a grade of …
“Yeah,” he said. “An ‘A.’ ”