Rangers 2, Sabres 1: Rick Nash scored his team-leading 26th goal with 1:42 remaining in the third period to snap a tie as host New York clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Benoit Pouliot also tallied to extend his career-high point streak to seven games and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 23 saves for the Rangers, who posted their ninth win in 12 contests. New York moved four points ahead of third-place Philadelphia in the Metropolitan Division and will host either the Flyers or Columbus in the opening round of the postseason.

Drew Stafford scored Buffalo's lone goal in his return from a four-game absence due to an undisclosed injury. Matt Hackett turned aside 28 shots for the reeling Sabres, who have dropped five in a row and 16 of their last 18 (2-15-1).

With the score tied at 1-1, Martin St. Louis gained the offensive zone and whistled a cross-slot feed to Nash. The top-line forward one-timed the offering from the right faceoff circle past Hackett for his ninth game-winning goal of the season.

New York enjoyed an 18-1 advantage in shots during the second period, but Buffalo cashed in to draw first blood at 9:06. Stationed in front of the net, Stafford deflected defenseman Mike Weber's soft wrist shot from the point past Lundqvist for his 16th goal. Pouliot answered with 31 seconds left in the session as his sharp shot from the left circle clanked off the post and into the net.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York swept the three-game season series with Buffalo for the first time since 2007-08. ... Rangers RW Mats Zuccarello notched an assist to extend his point streak to six games. The Norwegian scored four goals and set up five others during his stretch. ... Pouliot has collected three goals and four assists during his point streak.