Igor Shesterkin blanks Sabres as Rangers give Mike Sullivan first win

Igor Shesterkin made 37 saves and the visiting New York Rangers pulled away late for a 4-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres.

J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who gave new Rangers coach Mike Sullivan his first win after New York lost 3-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Carson Soucy and Adam Fox also scored for New York.

Shesterkin recorded his 22nd career shutout and passed Lorne Chabot (21) for eighth on the Rangers' all-time list. He has stopped 65 of 66 shots through two games.

Alex Lyon made 29 saves for the Sabres, opening night losers who enter the 2025-26 season looking to end a 14-season Stanley Cup Playoff drought.

The Sabres went 0-for-4 on the power play; the Rangers went 0-for-3.

Lafreniere gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 11:43 of the first period. Artemi Panarin's shot was blocked in front, and during a scramble, Lafreniere controlled the puck at the post and stuffed it past Lyon.

Lyon kept the Sabres within one later in the period when he made a save against Adam Edstrom on a breakaway.

Shesterkin returned the favor when he made a pad save to stop Josh Norris on a partial breakaway midway through the second period.

Soucy made it 2-0 at 14:46 of the third period. He took a pass at the point from Will Borgen, skated down into the left circle and beat Lyon short side with a wrist shot.

Miller increased New York's lead to 3-0 at 17:11 when he deflected Braden Schneider's shot from the point past Lyon.

The Sabres pulled Lyon and Adam Fox made it 4-0 after a faceoff in the Ranger zone when he fired a shot from just ahead of the Ranger goal line into the empty net at 17:25.

--Field Level Media