The Anaheim Ducks are certainly back in control of their game. In their last 26 matches they have a record of 20-4-2, a far cry from the dismal start to the season that had them battling the Edmonton Oilers for last in the Pacific Division.
On Wednesday night in Anaheim, they defeated the competitive Buffalo Sabres, 1-0, behind a 26-save effort from Frederik Andersen.
Frederik Andersen stopped 26 in win over Sabres – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“In a 1-0 game, you always want to make sure you get the win,” Andersen said. “The way we defended tonight was good. We didn’t give up too much. You’ve got to take the wins any way you can, but you want to play solid defensively with a good forecheck in the third period. It’s pretty much the perfect recipe.”
Sami Vatanen scored the only goal of the game on the power play in the second period.
“It’s been working (Anaheim’s power play) lately,” Vatanen said. “We’re moving the puck fast and shooting it. Simple. When you start to play simple, after that the nice plays come.”
Ryan Getzlaf assisted on the goal and now has a nine-game point streak going.
Buffalo fell to 24-30-7 on the season.
Robin Lehner made 28 stops in the loss.
“He played great for us. He gave us a chance,” Sabres forward Brian Gionta said. “He kept us in it and allowed us to continue to push.”
Andersen made a game-saving stop in the second period that stymied the Sabres’ best opportunity of the game and spurred the Ducks the rest of the game.
Sami Vatanen had the only goal in win for Ducks – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“We would have had to win 2-1,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We would have had to get another one if he wasn’t there. When he’s on, he can make the saves that nobody can make. We’ve seen it time and time again. You just don’t expect that. He’s a big man who’s very mobile in the net.”
For Buffalo it was another oh so close call for them.
“I’m not going to be satisfied with being stride for stride with them,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. “As a good hockey team we had every opportunity to win and get a few goals in that game, but we came up short. That’s certainly a good team, but I think we could have won.”
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