To start Week 19 of their 2023-2024 season, the Buffalo Sabres welcomed in the Anaheim Ducks for a Presidents Day matinee. While their playoff hopes are getting slimmer and slimmer, this was the week for the Sabres to try and get themselves back in the race. Anaheim was coming into Buffalo after getting blown out by the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-2, so they wanted to get that bad taste out of their mouth.
Jordan Greenway and the Sabres were looking to build off the win against the Minnesota Wild as he got the scoring started. It wouldn't last long however as Adam Henrique tied the game less than a minute later. Tage Thompson regained the lead for Buffalo in the second period on the power play as he beat Ducks goaltender John Gibson with a shot that barely found its way into the net.
A couple of minutes later, Anaheim tied it up once again thanks to Frank Vatrano. The Ducks took the lead thanks to Vatrano once again, but Zach Benson brought the score back to even as he tipped a shot from Henri Jokiharju. Those pesky Ducks didn't go away however as Troy Terry had Anaheim leading 4-3 heading into the third.
The game saw no more scoring as the Sabres would lose to Anaheim, resulting in the Ducks sweeping Buffalo this season. Once again, this Sabres team could not beat a team they should be able to beat and couldn't win consecutive games. Despite outshooting the Ducks 37-15, Buffalo lost the game. I'm not going to blame Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but I'm sure he's not happy with his performance after he let two goals in he would probably like to have back.
Credit has to be given to Gibson for the Ducks as he performed well to give Anaheim the victory. Buffalo will be on the road for the next two games and they will start the mini trip in Montreal to take on the Canadiens.