A highlight reel goal by the Anaheim Ducks in the second period was enough to help defeat the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center.
Neither team was able to score in the opening 20 minutes. Buffalo was credited with the only power play of the first when Sam Carrick was penalized for tripping. However, Anaheim was able to kill off the two minute power play.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen needed to make just six saves in the first against the Ducks. Buffalo had seven shots on goal in the first, but were unable to beat Anthony Stolarz.
Trevor Zegras and Sonny Milano combine for the game's first goal on a trick pass from behind the net. Zegras scooped up the puck and flipped it over the back of the net to Milano, who batted it out of the air and into the goal. The score was reviewed by the NHL video replay war room and confirmed.
Buffalo was credited with just three shots on goal in the middle frame, while the Ducks had nine. The only power play of the period with to Anaheim after Rasmus Dahlin was called for hooking. The Sabres killed off the opportunity.
The Sabres had an early power play chance in the third period, but failed to capitalize. Kevin Shattenkirk was called for hooking less than two minutes into the frame. Buffalo had a pair of scoring opportunities while on the man advantage, with Stolarz keeping Anaheim in front by a goal.
Their second power play chance of the third yielded even more scoring chances, but again did not result in the game-tying goal. Jeff Skinner, Victor Olofsson, and Dylan Cozens each had chances in tight but could not beat Stolarz.
Carrick doubled Anaheim's lead with just over two minutes left in regulation with his fifth goal of the season. The forward won an offensive zone face-off and tipped home a Josh Manson shot from the point to make it 2-0 Ducks late in regulation.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: none
ANA: none
Second Period
BUF: none
ANA: 5:14 - Sonny Milano (8) (Trevor Zegras, Rickard Rakell)
Third Period
BUF: none
ANA: 17:52 - Sam Carrick (5) (Josh Manson)
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: none
ANA: 9:50 - Sam Carrick (2 min., tripping)
Second Period
BUF: 10:10 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., hooking)
ANA: none
Third Period
BUF: none
ANA: 1:48 - Kevin Shattenkirk (2 min., hooking)
10:21 - Troy Terry (2 min., tripping)
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Trevor Zegras
2. Sonny Milano
3. Anthony Stolarz
What's Next
The blue and gold will remain home for a pair of games in as many days starting on Friday. The Sabres and New York Rangers will drop the puck at seven o'clock on Friday night in Buffalo. You can catch all of the action, including pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starting at six p.m. on thr flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550.