Hattrick by Mika Zibanejad: "The puck just went in"

Zibanejad scored the first two goals in the first period and the third at the beginning of the second.

It was the seventh hat trick of his career for the Swede and the third only this year, an achievement that he is alone in the NHL this year.

In total, he has scored 19 goals this season.

Zibanejad was also close to scoring a fourth goal when he broke free with the puck in the final minutes of the match.

Rangers' Finn Kaapo Kakko scored two goals - for the second time this season.

The last time that happened was also against Buffalo.

- They spread out well in their own zone and and they kept the puck out.

I think we gave them too much time.

We went back home too much instead of meeting them, says Buffalo's Victor Olofsson, who scored a goal.

Rangers continue to chase a playoff spot despite the win.

The top four teams in each division (Western, Central, Eastern and Northern) go to the Stanley Cup - Rangers are in fifth place, Buffalo last, in the Eastern Division.