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Rangers hang on to edge Sabres, even series

May 2, 2007 - 6:06 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Daniel Briere probably scored a goal, but he didn't, and the New York Rangers are right back in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Henrik Lundqvist played another strong game and the Rangers survived his late gaffe to post a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday in Game Four of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

New York defeated Buffalo on Sunday for the first time in seven tries this season with a 2-1 victory in double overtime. This time they evened the series at two games apiece by narrowly avoiding an extra session.

"We're in a (heckuva) series. Don't forget, they were one of the best teams down the stretch," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "They swept Atlanta and not for a minute did I anticipate that this would not be a tight series."

Lundqvist was stellar, making 29 saves and again thwarting the league's most potent offense, and he was at his best in the third period as the Rangers nursed a one-goal lead and were outshot, 11-4.

The Sabres scored an NHL-best 308 goals this season and were the only team with four players with at least 30. However, since a 5-2 win in the series opener - in which Buffalo scored three times in a four-minute stretch of the second period - Lundqvist had allowed only four goals in eight periods.

That total now is five in 11 periods but almost was one more and could have been a backbreaker for the Rangers. Lundqvist misplayed the puck behind the Rangers net and scurried back into the crease as Briere was attempting to stuff it home.

Lundqvist made the save but the play was reviewed for several minutes. Replays showed the puck partially cross the line before Lundqvist got his right pad over the puck, obscuring it from view. The replay never showed the puck completely crossing the line and the Rangers held on over the final 16 seconds for the win.

"Mentally I got ready for a 2-2 game. It's easier to switch back if it is still 2-1. But if it's 2-2, mentally you've got to be ready for it," Lundqvist said. "I felt like it was a save when I made it but when I looked at the replay, I wasn't so sure anymore. But it was, a great finish to this game and just how hockey should be."

"We initially had the TSN (Canadian TV) guys there next to the bench saying it crossed the line, so we were pretty confident that we had a goal," Ruff said. "I believe I've seen a replay where it's in. The only thing you hope with video replay is that you get it right. That's why you go to it and we've had some lengthy video reviews. I think from what I saw it was a goal."

However Ruff saw it, no goal was allowed and now the series comes down to a best of three dogfight that resumes Friday at Buffalo.

Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan each scored on the power play for the Rangers, who scored 17 goals in its first-round sweep of Atlanta but have found it tougher going against Ryan Miller.

"Of course we knew we could play (with Buffalo), but we cannot make mistakes," Jagr said. "I think we got excited when we got the two-goal lead. We were too excited and they scored right away. It wasn't the first time it happened this season."

Jagr was circling in the slot and redirected a shot by Michael Nylander off a Buffalo defenseman and past Miller to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead with just 45 seconds gone in the second period. The tally was Jagr's fourth of the playoffs.

Shanahan extended the Rangers lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal with 11:29 to play. Buffalo answered 33 seconds later to make it 2-1 on a goal by Ales Kotalik.

"We've really earned the victories. It's been a hard-fought series," Shanahan said. "We respect them. They earned home ice and won the President's Trophy but they know they're in a series now. We're not backing up, we're not playing cautiously. We're forechecking and skating hard."

Miller made 26 saves but has now lost two straight after reeling off five consecutive wins starting with Game Three in the first round against the New York Islanders.

"We needed a little desperation. Unfortunately, it took two goals," Miller said. "It's a little frustrating because you can see where the guys are starting to get things going. But there's moments where I think we're not doing everything we can be doing.

"I think we definitely play the way we did in the third period. It comes down to little things. I think we keep saying it. Now we've got to deliver it. We can play better."