The Buffalo Sabres entered the Honda Center on Sunday night with a chance at history. While they fell 6-5 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks, the “Blue and Gold” still etched their names into the record books.
In a battle between division leaders, Buffalo extended its road point streak to 14 games (12-0-2). This ties them for the 10th-longest road streak in NHL history. It was a game of wild swings, a struggling power play, and a massive third-period comeback. Though Troy Terry’s overtime breakaway snapped the win streak, the point earned brings Buffalo one step closer to a playoff berth.
Special Teams Struggle: Ducks’ Power Play Stings Early
The Sabres started fast. At 3:36 of the first, Owen Power fed a perfect pass from behind the net to Alex Tuch, who buried his 29th goal for a 1-0 lead.
However, penalty trouble shifted the momentum. A “too-many-men” minor allowed Chris Kreider to tie it on the power play. Minutes later, Alex Lyon was called for holding. The Ducks struck again as Jackson LaCombe’s point shot made it 2-1.
Buffalo fought back late in the frame. Noah Ostlund set up Josh Doan for his 23rd goal to knot the game at 2-2. While Anaheim held a 14-11 shot edge, Buffalo dominated the faceoff circle at 65.2%, led by a perfect start from Sam Carrick.
Ducks Reclaim Lead as Power Play Goes Cold
The second period was a test of patience. The Sabres’ special teams struggles continued during an uncharacteristically quiet frame. Anaheim took the lead just 2:35 in when Beckett Sennecke deked around Lyon to make it 3-2.
Buffalo had chances to answer. Zack Metsa and Zach Benson both drew penalties, but the Sabres’ power play stayed snake-bitten. They hit the post twice but couldn’t find the net. That lack of execution hurt at the 15:40 mark when Troy Terry walked into the slot to extend the Ducks’ lead to 4-2.
Despite the score, Buffalo controlled the pace, outshooting Anaheim 9-3 in the period.
Heartbreak in Anaheim: Terry Caps Wild Comeback
The third period was a total roller coaster. After a successful penalty kill, Jack Quinn sparked the comeback at 4:40, scoring off a beautiful drop pass from Rasmus Dahlin.
Alex Lyon kept Buffalo alive with two massive breakaway saves midway through the period. That goaltending allowed the Sabres to surge. Owen Power tied the game 4-4 with a point shot through traffic. Minutes later, Zach Benson found a loose puck to give Buffalo a 5-4 lead with only eight minutes left.
The drama wasn’t over. A late tripping penalty on Tuch gave Anaheim a 6-on-4 advantage with their goalie pulled. The Ducks tied it with just 1:44 remaining. In overtime, Troy Terry capitalized on a breakaway to seal the 6-5 win for the Ducks.
By the Numbers: Special Teams the Difference
The stat sheet highlighted Buffalo’s missed opportunities. While the Sabres won 60.3% of faceoffs, they were out-hit 23-12 and struggled with nine giveaways.
The biggest gap was special teams: Anaheim went 3-for-4 on the power play, while Buffalo went 0-for-3.
- Tage Thompson: Led the team with 25:33 of ice time.
- Zach Benson & Owen Power: Each recorded a goal and an assist.
- Rasmus Dahlin: Had two assists and a team-high four shots.
Next Up: The Sabres return home to KeyBank Center on Wednesday, March 25th. They face the Boston Bruins in a high-stakes rivalry game. Puck drop is at 7:30 P.M. on national TV (TNT).
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