Sabres beat the Rangers 5-2 to win for the 12th time in 13 games

NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Doan scored, Colten Ellis made 30 saves in his first game in a month and the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Rangers 5-2 on Thursday night to give them 12 victories in their past 13 games.

The Sabres last did that from Nov. 23 to Dec. 19, 2005. Buffalo moved into the second Eastern Conference wild-card slot by winning its 43rd game, making this the latest point in a season the team has been in a playoff spot since Feb. 24, 2023, through 57 games played.

While the organization with the NHL's longest playoff drought is still a long way from making it for the first time since 2011, there were a few positive signs about the ability to keep this run going. Bowen Byram made everything happen to set up Alex Tuch’s goal, and Jason Zucker scored off his back on a power play in his second game back in the lineup following a lengthy absence.

Most notably, the Sabres held on when the ice was tilted in their direction clinging to a one-goal lead in the third period. Ellis stopped the final 12 shots he faced after allowing a bad goal to Vincent Trocheck in the first minute of the third period, and Mattias Samuelsson scored short-handed seconds after teammate Peyton Krebs' double-minor for high-sticking put Buffalo on a 4-minute penalty kill.

Ryan McLeod sealed it with an empty-netter with 1:30 remaining.

The Rangers, playing without injured No. 1 goaltender Igor Shesterkin and top defenseman Adam Fox, have lost two in a row and five of seven. Jonathan Quick allowed four goals on 20 shots, and New York lost for the 15th time in 20 home games this season.

Referee Peter MacDougall left midway through after taking a puck to the face and did not return.

Sabres: Open a five-game homestand Saturday night against Anaheim.

Rangers: Visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday in an Original Six matinee.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis (92) skates during a pause in play during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Buffalo Sabres' Alex Tuch (89) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Buffalo Sabres' Mattias Samuelsson (23) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Buffalo Sabres' Mattias Samuelsson (23) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Buffalo Sabres' Mattias Samuelsson (23) shoots the puck past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) for a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

PHOENIX (AP) — Sarah Strong of UConn was named The Associated Press women’s basketball Player of the Year on Thursday after leading the Huskies to an undefeated season, setting the stage for a run to the Final Four.

Strong became just the fifth player to win the award in her sophomore year, joining Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2007), UConn stars Maya Moore (2009) and Breanna Stewart (2014), and USC's JuJu Watkins, who won it last year. The AP started giving out the award in 1995.

It's the 13th time that a Huskies player has won the award with Paige Bueckers being the last to do it before Strong in 2021.

Vanderbilt's Shea Ralph, who was a former UConn player and assistant coach, won the AP Coach of the Year award. They both accepted the awards in front of a full room that included the entire UConn team, which gave a standing ovation when both winners were announced.

“I’m so blessed because I totally got to this point in my life because of my teammates,” Strong said.

Strong received 25 votes from a national media panel that votes for the Top 25 each week. Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes garnered four votes and UCLA's Lauren Betts got the other two. Voting was completed before the NCAA Tournament began.

“Anybody that has watched us play would probably tell you that she's the heart and soul of our team,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She elevates the play of everyone on our team."

He called Strong “the most low-key superstar you ever saw.”

“You don’t see that look in her eyes, you know, like, oh, my God, there’s always just, a calmness,” he said. “That’s the best way I can describe it. That allows her to just be free and fluid and play without worry. ”

Auriemma has coached some of the greatest in the game including Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi. Strong fits in with them.

“The great ones, the great ones all had it. I never saw (Taurasi) nervous,” he said. ‘You know that they came in as freshmen and you can tell by the look in their eyes, ’I can handle this. This is what I think. This is why I came here.' You know some may pretend, but you know deep down you’re not ready for that moment. She’s ready for that one."

Strong is averaging 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 1.6 blocks a game while helping UConn go 38-0. She's shooting 59.4% from the field, 40.4% from 3 and 84.8% from the the foul line while playing just 27 minutes a game.

The sensational sophomore raised her game when the Huskies faced Top 25 opponents, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. She reached 1,000 career points in her 59th career game, the third-fastest player in school history to reach the milestone.

Strong was the Big East Player of the Year as well as the Most Outstanding Player of the Fort Worth Regional.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Associated Press deputy global sports editor Oscar Dixon, left, presents UConn's Sarah Strong with the 2026 AP Women's Player of the Year award during a news conference at the Women's Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UConn forward Sarah Strong, front, and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo compete for a loose ball during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

FILE - UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) reacts during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Syracuse, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

FILE - UConn forward Sarah Strong drives against Notre Dame during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

FILE - UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)