Anaheim, Calif. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres were on a rollercoaster Sunday in Anaheim against the Ducks.
Buffalo entered the third period down 4-2. They scored three-straight goals to take a 5-4 lead at the 11:37 mark of the frame, and just had to defend a one-goal lead for 8:23 to leave the West Coast road trip with four wins in four games.
It didn't happen, though, as Alex Tuch took a tripping penalty with 2:34 left in regulation. The Ducks pulled goalie Ville Husso to make it a 6-on-4, and Mikael Granlund found himself alone and open in the slot to tie the game at 5-5.
In overtime, Buffalo had possession of the puck, but Tage Thompson lost his balance along the wall and kicked the puck away from himself. Troy Terry got the puck for Anaheim and walked in alone on Alex Lyon to give the Ducks a 6-5 overtime win.
Lyon had a rough first 40 minutes, but Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff told him in the second intermission that the team was going to "apply all out pressure," which means he would be called upon to make some huge saves, which he did.
Lyon stopped Chris Kreider, Leo Carlsson and Jansen Harkins on breakaways, while robbing Pavel Mintyukov from the slot, and was on his stomach when he stopped Kreider again.
"We'll continue to try to do the same things and keep a good attitude," said Lyon, who came up one game short of an NHL record 11-game road winning streak. "We were fortunate to get a point, and it's time to reset and regroup."
It's not surprising that the Ducks got back in this game. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Anaheim has eight game-tying goals in the last two minutes of regulation. No other team in NHL history has more than six in one season.
Usually if a team plays .500 hockey in the second game of back-to-back situations, they're doing well. Buffalo is 7-1-3 this season in the second game of a back-to-back set. This was also three games in four, and they still had a lot to give in the third period, scoring those three goals.
The Sabres are getting goals from more than Tage Thompson and Tuch. Lately, key goals have been coming from Benson, Sam Carrick, Beck Malenstyn, Owen Power, Jack Quinn, Noah Ostlund and Rasmus Dahlin.
Going out West and coming home with 7-of-8 points is a huge accomplishment, yet in the room on Sunday, they were mad because they knew 8-of-8 points were right there for them.
You have to wonder how frustrating this is for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They go on the road and pick up 7-of-8 points, and gained no ground on the first place Sabres.
Buffalo came home with a points percentage of .669, while Tampa Bay is at .659. Buffalo also has four more points in the Atlantic Division.
Starting Wednesday, Buffalo is home for four-straight home games against the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Seattle Kraken, and New York Islanders. The Sabres are 5-1-0 in their last six at home.
Overall, the Sabres are 12-1-1 in their 14 games since the Olympic break.
