Carter Hutton is helped off the ice after a collision in the first period of Monday's game. Hutton did not return (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BROCKPORT, N.Y.--- Three minutes into the first period, the Buffalo Sabres lost goaltender Carter Hutton to injury. But that wasn't the worst of it, as the Sabres losing streak is now at fourteen games after a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers Monday night.
Three minutes into the first period, Carter Hutton collided with Rangers forward Julien Gauthier. Hutton gingerly walked to the locker room with help from the training staff. He did not return to the game. No injury report has been provided by the Buffalo Sabres at this time. Backup goaltender Dylan Tokarski, who hasn't played a full NHL since 2016, came in as the replacement.
Tokarski stepped up big in the period, keeping the Rangers scoreless. But after a 0-0 first period, Rasmus Asplund buried a wrist shot to give Buffalo the lead, with assists from Riley Sheahan and Victor Olofsson. However, the lead was short-lived, as Kaapo Kakko slipped the puck past Tokarski to tie the game at one.
The momentum was gone and so was the fight of the Sabres, as the Rangers two more goals in the period from Chris Kreider and Adam Fox in the second period to take a 3-1 lead.
But early in the third period, Buffalo regained their confidence with a quick goal from Dylan Cozens, which was assisted by Sam Reinhardt, trimming the Rangers lead to one. Something looked different about the Sabres, as they were finally fighting back. And about three minutes later, Jeff Skinner lit the lamp for his third goal of the season, tying the game at three.
Things were finally looking good for the Sabres until Chris Kreider broke the 3-3 tie with a powerplay goal to give the Rangers the lead. After Kreider's goal, Buffalo struggled to gain any offensive momentum, as they mustered only four shots on goal the rest of the third period.
With 1:30 to go, the Sabres pulled Tokarski for an extra skater, looking for a final rush to get the game into OT. But it was not meant to be, as Kappo Kakko buried an empty netter to seal the deal for the Rangers.
Monday's loss now ties the Sabres single-season losing streak (14), which was set during the 2014-2015 season. Buffalo is now 6-20-4 and looks to break the skid Wednesday night on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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