Anaheim outscores Buffalo despite being outshot.
Score: Ducks 4, Sabres 3
Shots: ANA: 15 BUF: 37
Buffalo Sabres Goals: Jordan Greenway (9), Tage Thompson (16, PPG), Zach Benson (6)
Anaheim Ducks Goals: Adam Henrique (16), Frank Vatrano (25, 26), Troy Terry (16)
Plus 1: Greenway Gets Things Going
9:07 into the first period, Jordan Greenway beat Anaheim goalie John Gibson with a snap shot and an assist from Dylan Cozens to open the scoring for the Sabres. No. 12’s ninth goal of the season was his third in the past four games.
By comparison, Greenway scored only four goals last year. With previous top scorers from 2022-23 plummeting in offensive production this season, Buffalo needs other forwards to step up and Greenway is definitely doing his part.
Plus 2: TNT Takes the Lead
8:10 into the second, Tage Thompson got a slap shot with some help from Rasmus Dahlin and Cozens to make it 2-1 Buffalo. Even better, the goal came during a Sabres’ power play, something the Blue and Gold don’t score on very often.
Thompson has only scored 16 goals so far this season, compared to a record 47 last year. His latest this year is his first since Feb. 6. Fans miss the explosive center they saw in the past. Maybe that player can make a return during the rest of the season.
Plus 3: Benson Battles Back
After Frank Vatrano backhanded the puck past UPL to tie the score once more, Zach Benson quickly responded with 4:40 left in the second period, tipping it in to make it 3-3. Henri Jokiharju and JJ Peterka assisted to keep the home team in the game.
Benson’s sixth of 2023-24 is the second goal in the past four matchups for the rookie winger. With 27 to go the remainder of the season, there’s still room for more.
Minus 1: Weak Defense and Goaltending Cost the Sabres
Unfortunately, every time Buffalo got the lead in this contest, Anaheim answered back, usually within minutes. Adam Henrique tied the score within 63 seconds of Greenway’s opener, while Frank Vatrano quickly evened things up some three minutes after TNT’s power play goal in the second.
After Vatrano opened up a lead with 5:26 left in the period, Benson managed to make it 3-3, but Troy Terry wasted little time beating UPL with a snap shot that trickled its way into the back of Buffalo’s net.
WesIsaLeo had the Comment of the Game: “Too many turnovers turned into Duck goals. I give Buffalo credit for how this finished but it’s another disappointing home loss to a struggling opponent. Phooey.”
The Sabres outshot the Ducks 37-15 and played strong, aggressive offense for most of the matchup. However, the visitors took advantage of turnovers, sloppy defense and an uncharacteristically poor performance from Buffalo’s starting netminder to get the lead and keep the Blue and Gold from mounting a comeback.
Final Thoughts
The Sabres have now fallen two in a row to the Anaheim Ducks, a team that’s 7th place in the Pacific Division as of this writing and lost three of their previous four matchups before coming to Buffalo. Fans once again booed the hosts off the ice, something they should be getting used to and something they’re apparently touchy about.
As many people have pointed out, if players don’t like the jeers than maybe they should play consistently better on both ends of the ice. Buffalo has the league’s longest playoff drought and Sabres’ supporters are tired of watching their team continue to be an NHL also-ran year after year.
The Sabres tantalize the home crowd with glimpses of greatness one night, then revert to losing the next one or two contests and ultimately dooming any postseason hopes. Fans have had enough and they’re protesting the only way they can, not coming to games or else booing when the roster falls short.
Buffalo heads north to face the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Belle Centre.
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