In a thrilling showdown in Anaheim, Troy Terry emerged as the hero for the Ducks, netting a breakaway goal just 1:29 into overtime. This marked Terry's second goal of the night and sealed a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, who had been riding high on a seven-game road winning streak.
The game took a decisive turn when Tage Thompson couldn't keep the puck in the Ducks' zone, setting up a 2-on-0 break for Anaheim. Terry capitalized with a slick backhander that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
Mikael Granlund played a crucial role in pushing the game to overtime. With just 1:44 left in regulation, he tied the game at 5 during a power play, thanks to Ville Husso being pulled for an extra attacker.
The Ducks' power play was firing on all cylinders early on, with Chris Kreider and Jackson LaCombe both finding the back of the net in the first period. Beckett Sennecke also contributed to the scoreboard, while Husso stood firm with 24 saves, helping Anaheim secure back-to-back wins and extend their points streak to four games.
On the other side, Alex Lyon's impressive 10-game road winning streak came to an end. The Sabres' goalie faced a barrage, allowing six goals on 33 shots, including strikes from Sennecke and Terry during a challenging second period.
Buffalo had their own offensive highlights, with Alex Tuch, Josh Doan, Jack Quinn, Owen Power, and Zach Benson all scoring, maintaining their franchise-record road points streak at 14 games. Despite the loss, the Sabres have been on a remarkable run, winning 20 of their last 24 road games. This surge has not only put them on the brink of ending the NHL's longest playoff drought but also in contention for their first division title since the 2009-10 season.
The Ducks' victory was a testament to their resilience and ability to capitalize on key moments, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the regular season.