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National Hockey League
Anaheim 5, Buffalo 2
When: 10:00 PM ET, Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Referees: Graham Skilliter, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Ryan Daisy, Ryan Gibbons
Attendance: 15193

Rickard Rakell, Ryan Getzlaf and Adam Henrique scored second-period goals Wednesday as the Anaheim Ducks rallied for a 5-2 victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres.

The Ducks, returning from a 2-2-0 road trip, won at home for the third time in three tries. Anaheim also handed the Sabres their first regulation defeat of the season.

Henrique had two goals on the night, Jakob Silfverberg contributed a goal and two assists, and Rakell (a goal and an assist) and Josh Manson (two assists) each wound up with two points for the Ducks.

After falling behind 2-0 in the first 16:36 of the game, the Ducks used a goal from Henrique in the closing minutes of the first period to start their comeback. The center added his second goal of the night in the closing seconds of the second period.

Key to the victory was the Ducks' ability to handle the Sabres' league-leading power play. Buffalo entered with an NHL-best 42.9 percent conversion rate with a man advantage, but Anaheim killed off 6 of 7 Buffalo power plays.

The Sabres started fast when Jack Eichel scored at the 7:35 mark of the first period. Eichel's fourth of the season was a one-man show when he took the puck near center ice, fought off Ducks defenseman Manson and beat Anaheim goalie John Gibson.

The Sabres then showed off their effective power play at 16:36 of the opening period when Victor Olofsson scored on the man advantage. All six of Olofsson's goals this season have come on the power play, and he extended his record by becoming the first player in NHL history to score the first eight goals of his career all on the power play.

After Henrique's first goal got the Ducks within 2-1, Rakell tied the game just 57 seconds into the second period when he took a centering pass from Silfverberg and scored his third of the season past Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark.

The Ducks took the lead for good at 9:14 of the second period when Getzlaf scored on the power play, his second tally of the season. It was the first time the Ducks scored with a man advantage this season, on their 17th try.

Henrique's second goal of the game, and fourth on the season, came with 13 seconds remaining in the second period when he pushed the puck into the net between Ullmark's legs.

Silfverberg scored into an empty net with just over three minutes remaining, his third of the campaign.

Gibson finished with 31 saves while Ullmark stopped 26 shots.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   Anaheim
Jack Eichel 1 Points Jakob Silfverberg 3
Jack Eichel 1 Goals Adam Henrique 2
Sam Reinhart 1 Assists Jakob Silfverberg 2
Victor Olofsson 1 Power Play Goals Ryan Getzlaf 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Linus Ullmark .867 Save Percentage John Gibson .939
Linus Ullmark 26 Saves John Gibson 31
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 33 2 1-7 3-4 18 25
Anaheim 31 5 1-4 6-7 24 32
Upcoming Games
  • Anaheim will play their next game at home against Carolina. The Ducks have a W/L % of .600 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Los Angeles. The Sabres have a W/L % of .667 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.