Panarin scores in OT, Rangers beat Sabres

— Igor Shesterkin Buffalo, N.Y. bailed out the New York Rangers by stopping 32 shots to force overtime, and Artemi Panarin scored a power-play goal 2:02 into the extra period for a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.

Patrick Kane scored his second goal in four games since being acquired by the Rangers in a trade with Chicago, but much of the credit for New York's fourth win in six outings went to Shesterkin.

"When he's on his game, we're a hard team to beat," defenseman Adam Fox said. "You never want to force him to bail us out, but that's just what he does."

Despite making a near costly miscue on a Sabres' goal waved off because the play was offside in the second period, Shesterkin stopped the final 21 shots he faced, including 14 in the third period. His best save came with 65 seconds remaining in regulation, getting across to foil Victor Olofsson, who was set up alone at the left post.

Jeff Skinner scored and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 24 shots for Buffalo, which continues slipping out of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

In dropping to 1-5-1 in their past seven, the Sabres showed resolve in attempting to bounce back from a 10-4 drubbing to the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

"I think we played less tight than we have the last few games. I don't know if we got to fearless yet. I think there's a whole other level for us," Buffalo coach Don Granato said. "Without compromising defensively, I felt we still generated enough to win a hockey game."

The Rangers never led until the final score for a second straight outing, after rallying to beat Montreal 4-3 in a shootout on Thursday.

Panarin's goal came 50 seconds after Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin was penalized for hooking Mika Zibanejad.