Thompson, Sabres Snap Four-Game Skid With 7–3 Win Over Ducks

Buffalo Sabres center Tyson Jost (17) shoots against Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 15, 2023. Ashley Landis/AP Photo

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Tage Thompson scored his 36th goal of the season, Casey Mittelstadt had the go-ahead goal late in the second period and the Buffalo Sabres snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7–3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, Feb. 15.

Alex Tuch had a goal and two assists while Peyton Krebs, Dylan Cozens , Tyson Jost and Mittelstadt each had a goal and an assist for Buffalo, which trailed 3–2 in the second period before scoring five straight goals.

Zembus Girgensons also scored and Rasmus Dahlin and Jack Quinn each had two assists as the Sabres had 14 of their 18 skaters record at least one point. Eric Comrie stopped 19 shots.

Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler had the fourth two-goal game in his 13-year career, Kevin Shattenkirk had a goal and an assist while Derek Grant had two assists. Lukas Dostal made 37 saves for the Ducks, who have dropped three straight games while being outscored 20–8.

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) celebrates with defenseman Cam Fowler (4) after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 15, 2023. Ashley Landis/AP Photo

Mittelstadt extended his point streak to three games with 1:57 remaining in the second period with a high wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that went past Dostal’s glove for his ninth of the season.

Thompson moved into third in the NHL in goals with a one-timer from the left faceoff circle off a pass by Dahlin. Thompson has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in his last 19 games and has a goal in three of Buffalo’s four games since the All-Star break.

Short-Lived Rally

Anaheim trailed 2–0 after one period as it was being outshot 17–1 at one point. But the Ducks rallied back with three straight goals during a nearly seven-minute span in the second period.

Shattenkirk scored his first of the year at 6:37. At 34 years, 17 days, he became the oldest Anaheim defenseman with a goal since Francois Beauchemin on March 21, 2018, (37 years, 290 days).

Fowler tied it 71 seconds later and then put the Ducks on top 3–2 at 13:08 when he put a loose rebound into the back of the net. However, the Sabres tied it 35 seconds later on a one-timer by Krebs.

It is the first time in 10 years the Ducks have had multiple defensemen age 31 or older with goals.

Up Next

Sabres: At San Jose on Saturday night.

Ducks: Host Los Angeles on Friday night.

By Joe Reedy