Alexis Lafreniere scores twice but Rangers lose home finale to Sabres, 5-3

Buffalo rallies in third period to defeat New York in regular season home finale.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:03am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers, with the players' movements and the action on the ice broken down into abstract shapes and forms in shades of blue and red.The Sabres' dramatic comeback victory over the Rangers showcases their resilience and determination as they clinch a long-awaited playoff berth.Columbus Today

The Buffalo Sabres rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals to defeat the New York Rangers 5-3 in the Rangers' final home game of the regular season. Alexis Lafreniere scored twice for the Rangers, but it wasn't enough as the Sabres got goals from Jason Zucker, Alex Tuch, and Zach Benson to secure the victory.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Rangers to 14-27 at home this season, a disappointing result for a team that won the Presidents' Trophy just two seasons ago. Meanwhile, the Sabres' dramatic turnaround continues as they clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2010-11, led by the coaching of Lindy Ruff.

The details

The Sabres fell behind 3-2 after Lafreniere's second goal, but rallied with three unanswered goals in the third period. Zucker scored the go-ahead goal early in the third, followed by Tuch's game-tying tally and Benson's empty-net goal to seal the win. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves for the Sabres, while Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots in the loss.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.
  • Lafreniere scored his two goals in the first and second periods.
  • Zucker scored the go-ahead goal for the Sabres at 7:14 of the third period.
  • Tuch tied the game for the Sabres at 5:50 of the third period.
  • Benson scored an empty-net goal for the Sabres at 18:44 of the third period.

The players

Alexis Lafreniere

A 24-year-old forward for the New York Rangers who scored two goals in the game.

Jason Zucker

A 34-year-old forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored the go-ahead goal in the third period.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The 24-year-old goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres who made 17 saves in the win.

Igor Shesterkin

The 30-year-old 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 continue to build on this momentum and keep pushing forward as we head into the playoffs.”

— Lindy Ruff, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres

What’s next

The Rangers will finish their season with a three-game road trip, starting Saturday against the Dallas Stars. The Sabres will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two teams - the Rangers struggling at home all season, while the Sabres have surged into the playoffs for the first time in over a decade under the guidance of veteran coach Lindy Ruff. The Sabres' comeback win showcases their resilience and determination as they look to make noise in the postseason.