Final
Streaking Ducks host lowly Sabres
Oct 22, 2014 - 3:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Anaheim Ducks look to notch a sixth straight victory on Wednesday night as they welcome the offensively-challenged Buffalo Sabres to Honda Center.The Ducks have not lost since a 6-4 setback in Pittsburgh to begin the season. They won three straight on the road following that loss and have also claimed the first two of a five-game homestand.
A victory tonight over the Sabres would give the Ducks their longest winning streak since winning seven in a row from Jan. 3-15.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been a key part of Anaheim's early success. He has started each game during this winning streak, posting a 1.38 goals against average and .950 save percentage after John Gibson was shelled for six goals in the loss to the Penguins.
Andersen notched his first career shutout in a 3-0 win over St. Louis on Sunday. He improved to 25-5-0 in his career, joining Ross Brooks as the only goaltenders in NHL history to win 25 or more times over their first 30 decisions.
The 25-year-old made 28 saves versus the Blues and on Monday was named the NHL's Second Star for the week.
Defenseman Sami Vatanen netted a pair of power-play goals and Matt Beleskey set the tone with a goal 1:37 into the game against St. Louis.
"We're starting to play like we want to," said Andersen. "We came out strong in this game and played well defensively and offensively the whole 60 minutes. That was a really good team effort today."
The Ducks also are inching closer to getting a pair of players back. Both forward Dany Heatley and defenseman Bryan Allen were able to practice on Monday. Neither has played yet this season, with Allen suffering an undisclosed injury just prior to the start of the campaign and Heatley sustaining a lower-body injury during the preseason on Sept. 28.
The Sabres hope to avoid a third straight shutout defeat as they head out west to begin a three-game trip. They also will stop in Anaheim and Los Angeles before traveling to Toronto to cap the swing.
Buffalo notched its first win of the season with a shootout decision over Carolina on Oct. 14, but lost to Florida 1-0 on Friday and then 4-0 to Boston the following day.
The Sabres unleashed a season-high 32 shots versus the Bruins, but couldn't get one past Niklas Svedberg. Jhonas Enroth made 32 saves in defeat for the Sabres.
"I thought we had good spurts of pressure. We have to continue to find ways to get pucks at the net," said Buffalo forward Brian Gionta.
Buffalo has been shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since Oct. 9-11, 2003 and has never gone three straight without scoring a goal.
The Sabres' could end their scoring drought if they can find a way to get their power play going. They went 0-for-7 versus the Bruins and are 0-for-22 on the man advantage this season.
Buffalo has been held to a pair of goals or fewer in five of its six games (1-5-0), including a 5-1 home loss to Anaheim on Oct. 13. William Karlsson scored his first two NHL goals for the Ducks and Andersen needed to make only 11 saves.
Tyler Ennis scored for the Sabres and Michal Neuvirth stopped 39-of-44 shots faced.
The Ducks have won three in a row overall versus the Sabres and four of the last five meetings in Anaheim.
- BUFFALO: 1
ANAHEIM: 4
Final
Oct 23 1:02 AM - Anaheim Goal - Corey Perry (8), from Francois Beauchemin at 18:35.
Sabres 1, Ducks 4 3rd - 1:25Oct 23 12:59 AM - Buffalo Goal - Tyler Ennis (3), from Matt Moulson at 14:54.
Sabres 1, Ducks 2 3rd - 5:06Oct 23 12:50 AM - BUFFALO: 0
ANAHEIM: 2
End of 2nd
Oct 23 12:02 AM - BUFFALO: 0
ANAHEIM: 1
Final
Oct 22 11:12 PM - BUFFALO: 0
ANAHEIM: 1
End of 1st
Oct 22 11:12 PM - BUFFALO: 0
ANAHEIM: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Oct 22 10:38 PM
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