Buffalo Loses To Ducks, 6-3

The Buffalo Sabres returned home this evening, on the heels of waiving Patrick Kaleta, to take on a Anaheim Ducks team that currently stands atop the Pacific Division with an incredible 10-3-1 record, falling to the Ducks, 6-3.

Jhonas Enroth was in net for tonights game against Jonas Hiller.

Nov 2, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Ville Leino (23) and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Bryan Allen (55) battle for a loose puck during the third period at First Niagara Center. Anaheim beats Buffalo 6 to 3. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo seemed to start the game very strong, going equal to the Ducks scoring chances, by rattling off seven shots to the Ducks seven. No goals were scored in the opening period.

Penalty problems did strike the Sabres late in the game, with a hooking penalty to Henrik Tallinder at 17:01 and an interference penalty to Tyler Myers at 18:34 giving the Ducks a late 5-on-3 advantage. Buffalo’s penalty kill was strong, not allowing a single goal in the two-man advantage.

At the end of the first, the score was tied, 0-0.

Buffalo struck first in the second period to put Buffalo up 1-0.

Anaheim’s Peter Holland went to the penalty box on a tripping call against Zemgus Girgensons, this gave Buffalo the opportunity to do some damage. Anaheim tried to play the puck out of their zone but Mark Pysyk gloved the puck down and played the puck back deep into the Ducks zone, Matt Moulson reached the puck first, cleared it out front and found Cody Hodgson waiting on the doorstep, with a quick one-timer, Hodgson was able to put the puck past Hiller.

Anaheim answered back a little under three minutes later, with Ryan Getzlaf wristing a goal from a give and go over Enroth.

A little over six minutes passed and the Ducks struck again. Off of a rush from Anaheim, Andrew Cogliano found a wide open Sami Vatanen in the center of the slot. Vatanen wristed a laser over Enroth’s left shoulder.

The Ducks would take only 34 seconds to push the deficit more, as Emerson Etem pushed a rebound into the top of the net.

At the end of the second, the Ducks led 3-1. The shot count read, 21-12 in favor of the Ducks.

In the third period, Anaheim only needed 4:50 to push Buffalo down even more.

Corey Perry ripped a wrist-shot from the right side of Enroth, off the far post and into the net. Just like that, the Ducks lead increased to

Nov 2, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons (28) and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) look for the puck during the first period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

4-1.

Only 39 seconds stood in between Anaheim’s next goal, as Emerson Etem scored his second goal of the night, Mathieu Perrault played the puck around Buffalo’s net, pushed the puck to a wide open Etem. Etem connected on a one-timer and Buffalo now sat with a 5-1 Duck lead.

With the Ducks holding a commanding lead, Buffalo had to do something.

With Matt Moulson clearing the puck to Cody Hodgson, Hodgson passed back to Henrik Tallinder, who slapped a shot down to the Ducks net, which found its way behind Hiller, and the lead was cut to 5-2.

Buffalo then struck again with Tyler Myers wristing a point-blank shot to put the lead at 5-3.

Corey Perry dampened any spark the Sabres had with a breakaway wrist-shot to put the score at 6-3.

Perry’s goal would be the final goal of the game, as the Ducks rolled to a 6-3 victory. The final shot count read 29-17.

Buffalo goes on the road to take on the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Faceoff is at 10:30 ET.