Anaheim, CA (My Sportsbook) - Jonas Hiller needed to make just 21 saves to help the Anaheim Ducks take a 3-2 win over the
Buffalo Sabres at Honda Center.
Chris Pronger, Chris Kunitz and Corey Perry each lit the lamp for the Ducks, who have won three of their last four games.
"We played hard tonight and it paid off," said Kunitz. "It feels good and we have to keep going and pushing hard for the playoff run."
Patrick Kaleta and Craig Rivet each had a goal while Patrick Lalime was charged with three goals on 34 shots for the Sabres, who went 3-3 on their six-game road trip.
Kaleta got the Sabres on the board with 6:43 left in the first period as he came out front with the puck and swept it under the right pad of Hiller for his third goal of the season.
Lalime stopped all five shots he faced in the first period to keep Anaheim off the board.
The Ducks tied the game at the 12:43 mark of the second period as Pronger's big slap shot found the back of the net.
Skating on the power play in the third period, Anaheim took a 2-1 lead as Teemu Selanne sent a quick pass from behind the net to the low right side where Kunitz tapped it between the pads of Lalime at the 3:34 mark.
The Ducks gave themselves some insurance near the midway mark of the third with another power-play goal as Steve Montador blasted a shot from the right point that Lalime stopped, but the puck got behind him and Perry tucked it home.
Buffalo made it a one-goal game with 6:33 to play as Paul Gaustad blasted a shot from the left circle on the fly that Hiller stopped, but the rebound kicked out to the right side and Rivet buried it.
Game Notes
Anaheim has had a power-play goal in nine straight games...Anaheim hits the road for three games starting in Minnesota on Wednesday...Buffalo hosts Toronto on Wednesday...Anaheim went 2-for-3 on the power play while Buffalo finished the game 0-for-2.