Ducks rally, but lose in OT to Sabres

In Anaheim the Buffalo Sabres bounced back from a third period by the Ducks to force overtime, with a 4-3 win in extra time.

Anaheim’s Simon Benoit scored in the sixth minute of the third to get the teams even.

Rasmus Asplund scored the Sabres’ game-winner in the extra session.

“I think that’s been one of the things we’ve been doing really well throughout the year here,” Asplund said. “Even if we’re down one or we’re up by three like today … we still try to manage the calm we have in the group and stick to our game and do what we do to make us successful. I think we’ve been doing that all year and even today. So that’s a good thing from the group, I think.”

Craig Anderson made 34 saves in the Sabres win.

“You want your players to play to a certain standard, and our guys took that personal, a personal standard,” Buffalo head coach Don Granato said. “They weren’t playing to their personal standard. So we didn’t have to do as much coaching in that regard. I mean, it was tough to watch at times because you’ve got guys just having a tough time executing. But collectively they felt, ‘OK, we’re not up to our standard.’ They hunkered down, supported each other. … That was nice to see that.”

The Sabres also got goals from Zemgus Girgensons and Arttu Ruotsalainen for a 3-0 lead.

“There have been so many encouraging signs with the way we’ve played in games, and there’s been letdowns at certain times that have certainly cost us,” Anaheim’s Adam Henrique said. “You look at playoff teams and teams that get in, and the difference is those games. And it is a long season, but come that time, you’re four, five points out in crunch time, and you run out of games. … Those are certainly learning points [that separate] a team on the outs from a team getting in come playoff time.”

Troy Terry and Henrique scored to pull the Ducks within.

“The kid second-guesses himself a lot, he gets in his own head, and it’s amazing him going out of the lineup and coming back in,” Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins said of Terry. “He’s been as strong as ever. He’s quietly turning into a very, very reliable winger that can make a play and score if he decides to shoot the puck.”

Anthony Stolarz made 25 saves in the Ducks loss.