Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Ales Kotalik scored the lone shootout goal, as the Buffalo Sabres slipped by the New York Rangers, 2-1, at HSBC Arena.
Kotalik was the first shooter in the extra segment and with a quick release drilled a shot that beat Steve Valiquette on the glove side. Ryan Miller turned aside all three Ranger bids, including a stop on former Sabres co- captain Chris Drury to seal the win.
Derek Roy scored in regulation for Buffalo, which matched its longest winning streak since opening the 2008-09 campaign with four straight victories. Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek assisted on the tally, while Miller stopped 43 shots, including a combined 16 in the third period and overtime.
Paul Mara lit the lamp for the slumping Rangers, who have dropped six of their last eight games. Valiquette made a total of 20 saves in the third period and extra session and finished the game with 32.
New York outshot the Sabres 14-7 in the first period, and Mara notched the only goal, letting a wrister go from the right point that got through traffic and past a screened Miller with 37 seconds remaining.
The Rangers controlled most of the play in the middle stanza, holding a 14-6 edge in shots, but Miller was up to the task and Roy managed to slip a rebound of a Stafford offering between Valiquette's pads with 3:24 to play, and the clubs went into the third period deadlocked at one.
