Sabres rally past Rangers 5-3 with Zucker's late goal

Buffalo secures playoff spot for first time since 2010-11 season

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:35am

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An abstract, energetic painting with vibrant brushstrokes of neon blue, green, and red, capturing the dynamic movement and intensity of a hockey game.The Sabres' dramatic comeback victory over the Rangers showcases the unbridled passion and excitement of NHL playoff hockey.NYC Today

The Buffalo Sabres rallied from a third-period deficit to beat the New York Rangers 5-3 on Wednesday night. Jason Zucker scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves for the Sabres, who clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2010-11. Zach Benson scored twice and Ryan McLeod added a goal for Buffalo, which has won 22 of its last 31 games.

Why it matters

The Sabres' dramatic turnaround this season, going from missing the playoffs for 14 straight years to clinching a postseason spot, is a significant milestone for the franchise. Their strong play since the Olympic break has them positioned well to make a deep playoff run.

The details

Zucker scored the go-ahead goal at 7:14 of the third period after teammate Alex Tuch had tied the game earlier in the period. Benson and McLeod also scored for the Sabres, while Alexis Lafreniere scored twice and Adam Fox added a goal for the Rangers. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves to earn the victory.

  • The Sabres scored the game's first two goals in the first period.
  • Lafreniere scored twice to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead in the second period.
  • Tuch tied the game at 3-3 early in the third period before Zucker's go-ahead goal.
  • Benson added an empty-net goal to seal the 5-3 win for the Sabres.

The players

Jason Zucker

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres who made 17 saves to earn the victory.

Alexis Lafreniere

A forward for the New York Rangers who scored two goals in the game.

Igor Shesterkin

The goaltender for the New York Rangers who made 22 saves in the loss.

Lindy Ruff

The head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, who previously coached the team when they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1999.

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What they’re saying

“We must have believed in ourselves all season to get to this point. This is just the start of what we can accomplish.”

— Jason Zucker, Sabres forward

“It's disappointing to end the season this way at home, but we'll regroup and look to finish strong on the road.”

— Adam Fox, Rangers defenseman

What’s next

The Sabres will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night as they continue their push towards the playoffs. The Rangers will visit the Dallas Stars on Saturday to start their season-ending three-game road trip.

The takeaway

The Sabres' remarkable turnaround this season, going from a perennial playoff miss to clinching a postseason berth, is a testament to the team's resilience and the coaching of Lindy Ruff. Their strong play since the Olympic break has them poised to make a deep playoff run, while the Rangers will look to regroup and finish the season strong on the road after a disappointing home finale.