Rangers Hold On For Win Over Sabres, NHL News

Antti Raanta made Henrik Lundqvist's absence less of an issue on a night the New York Rangers were hardly at their best.

Raanta stopped the final 24 shots he faced, and the Rangers held on for a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday after nearly squandering a 3-0 lead.

"We didn't play our best game," said Mats Zuccarello, who had a goal and two assists. "I think we're just happy to do what we had to do to win, and Raanta played good. So he's good to have back there right now."

Making his third consecutive start since Lundqvist was sidelined by neck spasms, Raanta bounced back after allowing five goals on 31 shots in a 6-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday. And the Rangers didn't make it easy for him against Buffalo.

The Sabres scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the second period, and then put 19 shots on net in the third.

"We got a 3-0 lead but then we took the leg off the gas and gave them momentum," said Raanta, who improved to 8-5-2 this season, and 2-1 since Lundqvist was sidelined. "The third period was a good battle for everybody, and it was nice to come back after the Sunday game and take two points."

On an even brighter note, coach Alain Vigneault said Lundqvist has a chance to return by this weekend, and forward Rick Nash -- who has missed 20 games with a bone bruise -- might not be far behind after the two skated back home earlier in the day.

J.T. Miller sealed the victory with a backhander into an empty net with a minute left. Derrick Brassard and Jesper Fast also scored for New York, which extended its winning streak over Buffalo to nine.

Tuesday, March 8 Scoreboard

NY Rangers 4, Buffalo 2

Carolina 4, Ottawa 3 (SO)

Columbus 5, Detroit 3

NY Islanders 2, Pittsburgh 1

Montreal 4, Dallas 3 (OT)

Boston 1, Tampa Bay 0 (OT)

Nashville 4, Winnipeg 2

San Jose 3, Edmonton 0

Wednesday, March 9 Schedule (All Times Central)

NY Islanders at Toronto, 6 p.m.

Chicago at St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Nashville at Calgary, 8:30 p.m.

Anaheim at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Arizona at Vancouver, 9 p.m.

Washington at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.