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Giguere, Ducks deny Sabres

Feb 25, 2009 - 4:52 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- All-Star Jean-Sebastien Giguere finished with 34 saves Tuesday to help the Anaheim Ducks defeat the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, for the second time this month.

Teemu Selanne scored early and a pair of Ducks broke lengthy scoring droughts as Anaheim improved to 2-1-0 on its current six-game road trip, its longest of the season.

"Your goaltender has got to give you a chance night in and night out," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "Tonight, Giguere gave us a chance to win the hockey game."

Ales Kotalik had a goal and an assist and Paul Gaustad also scored for the Sabres, who dropped a 3-2 decision to Anaheim at home on February 2.

Selanne put the Ducks ahead just 70 seconds into the first period as he skated in on goaltender Patrick Lalime, beating him with a backhander for his 19th goal of the season.

Gaustad tipped in a shot by Kotalik to tie the game 10 minutes later as the teams entered the locker rooms tied at 1-1 after the first period.

"We gave up a goal as the power play ended, then we were able to get through the first period and got our game back," Carlyle said. "We played a lot stronger the last half of the game, we found a way to get a couple goals and make them stand."

Giguere made 15 saves in the second period and Todd Marchant scored and Mike Brown tallied for the first time in 43 games as the Sabres took control.

"We have to make sure we take advantage of our chances and put the puck in the net," Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman said. "All their three goals were after our mistakes. We have to clean that up and just keep working harder."

Marchant scored shorthanded midway through the period and Brown added his second career goal with 66 ticks remaining in the middle session.

"I grew up watching this team," said Marchant, a Buffalo native.

"Every time I come here, it's a little extra special to play. It's nice to put the puck in the net. More importantly, it's nice to get the win."

Buffalo cut the deficit in half on a power-play goal by Kotalik with just over a minute left in regulation, but Giguere did not allow the equalizer as the Ducks won in their first trip to Buffalo since December 8, 2005.

"I felt pretty good tonight," Giguere said. "I owe a few to my team, so hopefully I can keep building, getting some confidence, and get some games together."

Lalime, who was also in net in Buffalo's last loss to Anaheim, stopped 18 shots and is still in search of his first win since December 13.

"I think I was better as the game went on," Lalime said. "I didn't have a lot of shots for awhile. I thought we played a pretty solid game out there. We didn't give them much, but they got lucky on a couple of ones."