NEW YORK — With eight games remaining, Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff’s message to his team was simple: Win them all, and we’re in the playoffs.

Then they went out and knocked off the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers.

Drew Stafford had two goals and an assist, linemate Tyler Ennis had a goal and two assists, and Marcus Foligno set up both of them to lead the surging Sabres to a 4-1 victory Friday night. Travis Turnbull scored his first NHL goal.

Buffalo moved up into an eighth-place tie in points with Washington, which lost in overtime to Winnipeg on Friday night, and is only two points behind seventh-place Ottawa with two weeks left.

“We’re just trying to ride this wave as long as we can,” Stafford said.

And what a ride it has been.

The Sabres were 14th in the 15-team Eastern Conference, 10 points out of a playoff spot, on Feb. 17. They are 12-2-4 since and are trying to become the second team to rally from such a deficit so late to get a postseason berth.

“We’ve put a lot of work into getting to the position where we’re at right now, but obviously we’re not there yet,” Stafford said. “We’re not worried about the other teams around us. We know if we play well, take care of our business and win the games, we’ll be sitting just fine. Right now we haven’t accomplished anything.”

In other games on Friday:

Canadiens 5

Senators 1

MONTREAL — Erik Cole scored three goals in the first 5:41 in Montreal’s victory over Ottawa.

Jets 4

Capitals 3

WASHINGTON — Tim Stapleton scored 2:37 into overtime, and Winnipeg rallied from three goals down to beat Washington and pull within four points of the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference.

Blue Jackets 5

Hurricanes 1

COLUMBUS, Ohio — R.J. Umberger had three goals for the third time in his career and Steve Mason stopped 39 shots to help Columbus hand Carolina a critical blow to its diminishing playoff hopes.

Maple Leafs 4

Devils 3

NEWARK, N.J. — James Reimer made 43 saves and all three Toronto players scored in the shootout to beat New Jersey after the Maple Leafs blew a two-goal lead in the third period.

Oilers 2

Panthers 1

SUNRISE, Fla. — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the deciding goal in the fourth round of a shootout to left Edmonton past Florida.