Henrik Lundqvist: NY Rangers Goalie Shines in Shootout Win over Buffalo Sabres

Wednesday night's matchup between the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres was an exhilarating game, to say the least.

It was a battle of the goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist vs. Ryan Miller.  Both excellent netminders, both No. 30 for their respective teams.

Miller stopped all 29 shots in regulation and Lundqvist all 34, crediting them both with a shutout.

Another key factor of the game was the amazing effort by the defense on both sides. That, and a little help from the left goal post for Lundqvist, which deflected a number of attempts by the Sabres, took the game into the shootout.

Lundqvist was clearly in the zone, and while speaking with NHL analyst Pierre McGuire after the game, Lundqvist mentioned that although he was disappointed not to play in Tuesday night's meeting with the New Jersey Devils, he agreed it was probably the right move.  

He mentioned that with all the media attention and excitement in Ottawa during the All-Star break, he really needed an extra night to get back in the swing of things. And, boy was he back Wednesday night.  

The Sabres really applied pressure in the Rangers' zone in a power play that took them through the end of regulation and about 20 seconds into overtime, but Lundqvist was letting nothing get by him.

However, the true test of the night came during the shootout.

The Sabres got to shoot first, but Lundqvist held strong.  

Marian Gaborik stepped up for the Rangers and scored a beauty of a goal on Miller, putting the Rangers up 1-0 in the shootout in the first round.

The second round saw no action by either side. But then Sabres captain Jason Pominville got a wrist shot past Lundqvist in the third round to even it up, 1-1.

Neither team scored during the fourth round, and that goal post stepped up and assisted Lundqvist once again.

Then in the bottom of the fifth round, captain Ryan Callahan got a shot past Miller for the goal and the game.

It was a true moment of glory for the Rangers, who managed to bounce back yet again after a shootout loss the night prior.