NEW YORK — Casey Mittelstadt scored the tying goal in the third period and got the deciding goal in the shootout to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers on Monday night.
JJ Peterka also scored for the Sabres and rookie Devon Levi made 26 saves to beat the Rangers for the second time in 11 days. Buffalo won 3-2 in overtime at home on March 31 in Levi’s first NHL game and again found a way to beat the Rangers in extra time.
The Sabres are 7-1-1 in their last nine games to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The victory also gave Buffalo 40 wins in a season for the first time since the team won 43 games in 2010- 11.
Artemi Panarin scored twice for New York and Igor Shesterkin finished with 36 saves. Rangers have earned points in six straight games (3-0-3) and nine of their last 10 (6-1-3).
New York pulled two points behind first-place Carolina in the Metropolitan Division and one behind second-place New Jersey. The Hurricanes and Devils both have two games remaining, and the Rangers have one.
After the first six skaters failed to score in the tiebreaker, Owen Power tallied for Buffalo and Vladimir Tarasenko for the Rangers in the fourth round. Mittelstadt then beat Igor Shesterkin on a backhand with a dazzling move in the fifth round before the Rangers' Kaapo Kakko failed to convert.
Levi, the 21-year-old netminder who recently joined the Sabres out of Northeastern University, improved to 4-1-0. He pumped his fist in exultation and was engulfed by joyous Sabres teammates after the shootout concluded.
Panarin scored twice about 10 minutes apart in the second period to give New York a 2-1 lead but Mittelstadt tied it at 8:13 of the third with his 13th of the season. Mittelstadt has 12 points in his last eight games.
After forward Peterka gave the Sabres an early lead with 5 1/2 minutes left in the first, Panarin tied it on a power play 1:01 into the second. He then put the Rangers ahead at 11:12 with his 28th of the season.
Panarin leads the Rangers with 91 points overall. He has points in 15 of his last 22 games — including 10 goals and eight multi-point efforts.
EXTRA TIME
Each of the last four meetings between the Rangers and Sabres has gone beyond regulation.
UP NEXT
Sabres: At New Jersey on Tuesday night.
Rangers: Host Toronto on Thursday night in their regular-season finale.
