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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Henrik Lundqvist returned to form on Thursday night. Lundqvist made 27 saves to lead the New York Rangers to a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, one day after signing a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension. "It was weird because it was such a big day yesterday, an emotional day for me," Lundqvist said. "And obviously its a proud moment for me to realize theyre willing to commit to me and I want to commit to them. But at the same time, I just couldnt be super happy because you want more wins." The contract will make him the NHLs highest-paid goalie. Lundqvist was hardly troubled through 40 minutes, but was outstanding in the third period. He made 13 saves in the games final 20 minutes, including consecutive breakaway stops on Cody Hodgson and Steve Ott. "He made some really big saves," said Rangers coach Alain Vigneault, whose team improved to 15-14. "Hes an elite goaltender that comes up big at the right time and certainly helped us win tonight." New York also got production from its star forwards, with Rick Nash and Brad Richards scoring goals. "There were some pressure moments in the game and our big guys came up big," Vigneault said. Mats Zuccarello also scored and added an assist as the Rangers bounced back from a 5-2 loss to Winnipeg on Monday. Tyler Ennis scored and Ryan Miller made 28 saves in a loss that dropped the Sabres to 3-12-1 at the First Niagara Center. Lundqvist made four quick saves in under a minute early in the period, including close-range stops on Mark Pysyk and Ott. He then stopped two breakaways in as many minutes. First, Hodgson used a burst of speed to earn a breakaway, but Lundqvist used his right pad to stop Hodgsons backhand attempt. Then, he stopped Otts forehand. "I think for a goalie you just have to be there when mistakes happen," Lundqvist said. "Theyre gonna happen and I felt like they were taking more chances in the third to kind of get going so I knew I had to be ready, but it felt really good." Ennis spoiled Lundqvists shutout bid at the 17:54 mark of the third, the Sabres first goal on Lundqvist in 118 minutes of play. New York opened the scoring on a highlight-reel goal from Nash. Derek Stepan tapped Ryan McDonaghs two-line pass to Nash at the Sabres blue line. Nash darted past Tyler Myers, drawing Miller across the goal before reaching back to tuck the puck around the goaltenders right skate and into the net. "I was just faking the wide pole and hoping hed bite on the backhand and hopefully thered be something open there," said Nash on his fifth goal, leaving him one point away from 600 for his career. Marcus Foligno came close to tying the score with 15:53 gone in the second period, but his wrist shot from distance was saved from the top corner by Lundqvists glove. The Sabres opened the third period on the power play, but their struggling unit could barely enter the Rangers zone -- let alone record a shot on goal -- and has just one goal in its past 13 chances and two in 20. The Rangers gave themselves a cushion with a power-play goal from Richards at the 8:29 mark of the third. Richards later added an assist and has points in his past five games. Miller stopped 20 of 21 shots in the first two periods before allowing two late goals just one day after Buffalo interim head coach Ted Nolan said he wanted to build around the goaltender, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Nolan was frustrated that the teams intensity, as the Sabres have struggled to find consistency during their worst start in franchise history. "Sometimes we show it, sometimes we dont," said Nolan, who is 2-6-1 since taking over for Ron Rolston. "Thats been the common theme since Ive been here. We try to find that button to push to say, Lets do it not sometimes but all the time." New York is 14-2 when scoring first, and 1-12 when allowing the games first goal. McDonagh had two assists, giving him points in five straight as well. NOTES: The Sabres announced that C Mikhail Grigorenko will be loaned to the Russian mens national junior team beginning Sunday for the world junior championships in Malmo, Sweden. ... RW Derek Dorsett and D Justin Falk were scratched for the Rangers. ... D Brayden McNabb rejoined the Sabres after a brief demotion to the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, but was scratched. Dennis Gardeck Jersey . Best has been bothered by concussion problems and hasnt played since Oct. 16, when the Lions lost to San Francisco. After starting 5-0, Detroit has lost four of six, beginning with that game against the 49ers. Dante Booker Jersey . 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Aaron Brewer Jersey . -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday.CALGARY - Former assistant Doug Derraugh was named head coach of the Canadian national womens hockey team Monday. He succeeds Kevin Dineen, who recently served as head coach of the Canadian mens under-18 team after guiding the womens team to Olympic gold at the 2014 Sochi Games. Derraugh will serve as head coach of the womens team for the 2014-15 season, Hockey Canada said Monday in a release. Tim Bothwell and Dwayne Gylywoychuk will serve as assistants. "The 2014-15 season begins a new Olympic cycle for the womens program, and a crucial time to build on our success in Sochi," said Melody Davidson, Hockey Canadas general manager of national womens team programs.dddddddddddd "Doug, Tim and Dwayne have all worked with our program and bring great international and club team experience to the team." Derraugh was an assistant coach with the Canadian womens team during the 2011-12 season, helping the squad win gold at the 2012 world championship. The 48-year-old native of Arnprior, Ont., just co