Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres erased a two-goal deficit in the third period with three goals, defeating the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2, on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center.
Dylan Cozens helped lead the way with assists on all three goals.
An early two-man advantage allowed the Ducks to score the game's first goal just over three minutes into the first period.
Mason McTavish completed the chance from the right-wing faceoff circle for his 14th goal of the year. The goal came while Jordan Greenway and Rasmus Dahlin were each in the penalty box serving minor penalties.
A total of 10 penalties were called in the opening period, including fighting majors between Peyton Krebs and Ryan Strome.
The Sabres were 0-for-2 on the man advantage in the first. Buffalo was credited with 11 shots on goal in the period, while the Ducks had five total shots on goal.
Anaheim extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second period thanks to another power play chance. This time, Alex Tuch was called for interference, leading to a Leo Carlsson goal for a two-goal deficit for Buffalo.
The Sabres were credited with six shots on goal in the second period, bringing their two period total to 17. Lukas Dostal made 17 saves for the Ducks through 40 minutes.
Anaheim scored one goal on seven shots in the second, as well.
Buffalo was able to break through early in the third period thanks to several passes in the offensive zone, with the puck finally landing on the stick of JJ Peterka. The goal was Peterka's 16th of the year.
Cozens and Owen Power were credited with the assists on the goal that brought the Sabres to within a goal, 2-1, less than two minutes into the third period.
The Sabres then gained possession of the puck on the ensuing faceoff and pinned Anaheim in their own zone for quite some time.
It eventually resulted in the game-tying goal less than four minutes later, as Alex Tuch followed up his own scoring chance with the puck sitting on the goal line. The goal marked Tuch's 20th tally of the year.
Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju added his third goal of the year to turn, what was, a two-goal deficit into a one-goal lead midway through the third period.
Cozens recorded his third assist of the period with the secondary assist on the go-ahead goal. Jack Quinn recorded his first point of the game, as well.
Buffalo dominated the pace of play in the final period of play, registering 18 shots on goal to Anaheim's six. In the end, it culminated with a 3-2 victory for the team's sixth-straight home win.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
ANA: 3:05 - Mason McTavish (14) PPG (Jackson Lacombe, Troy Terry)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
ANA: 4:58 - Leo Carlsson (11) PPG (Pavel Mintukov, Isac Lundestrom)
Third Period:
BUF: 1:56 - JJ Peterka (16) (Dylan Cozens, Owen Power); 5:34 - Alex Tuch (20) (Dylan Cozens); 9:31 - Henri Jokiharju (3) (Jack Quinn, Dylan Cozens)
ANA: NONE
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Dylan Cozens - BUF
2.) Henri Jokiharju - BUF
3.) Alex Tuch - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will head out onto the road for a Thursday night meeting in Carolina against the Hurricanes. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog begins at 6:00 p.m.