Ducks Continue Playoff Push Against Struggling Sabres in Key Road Matchup

Ducks Refuse to Back Down as Playoff Hopes Stay Alive

For the first time in seven years, the Anaheim Ducks are still in the playoff conversation this late in the season.

They’ve fought their way into contention for a Western Conference wild-card spot, and with the race heating up, every single game matters. Tuesday night’s showdown against the Buffalo Sabres marks a pivotal moment in their quest to end their playoff drought.

The Ducks entered Monday just six points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the final wild-card position. But with three other teams between them and the Canucks, Anaheim can’t afford any missteps.

The good news? Momentum is on their side.

Ducks Have Been Red-Hot Since the Break

Before the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament paused NHL play for two weeks, the Ducks had won six of their last seven games—a run that vaulted them up the standings.

Since returning from the break, Anaheim has shown no signs of slowing down:

• Feb. 17: Overtime thriller against Boston—Ducks win 3-2.
• Feb. 18: Gutsy comeback against Detroit—forced OT but lost 4-3.

That never-say-die mentality has defined Anaheim all season. Every time they’ve been counted out, they’ve found a way to claw back into games.

“Everyone had a good break, eight or nine days off, but we all came back and we’re focusing on one thing, and that’s getting wins,” rookie Cutter Gauthier said after his two-goal performance against Detroit.

“We have a pretty big second half here that we have to stay focused on and do our jobs… It’s not going to come easy, and we all know that as a group. But every single night, whether it’s a back-to-back or we have a couple days in between, we’re going to come out battling.”

That relentless approach has paid off. Anaheim is now 21-0-3 this season when scoring at least three goals, proving that when their offense clicks, they’re nearly impossible to beat.

Trevor Zegras’ Status Uncertain After Controversial Hit

While the Ducks are fighting for their playoff lives, they could be without one of their biggest offensive weapons in Buffalo.

Trevor Zegras is expected to face NHL discipline after a high hit on Detroit’s Michael Rasmussen, which knocked the Red Wings forward out of Sunday’s game.

With a potential suspension looming, Anaheim might need to find offense elsewhere—especially against a Buffalo team that just erupted for a season-high 8 goals.

Sabres Show Life, But Still Struggle in the Standings

The Buffalo Sabres have flashed glimpses of their potential this season, but their inconsistency has kept them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

Still, Saturday’s 8-2 demolition of the New York Rangers proved that Buffalo has the talent to shock any team.

Rasmus Dahlin Leads the Way for Buffalo

Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin put on a clinic against the Rangers, finishing with two goals and two assists in one of his most dominant performances of the season.

The 23-year-old Swedish star is quickly cementing his place in Sabres history:

• His 75th career goal moved him past Mike Ramsey for second-most goals by a defenseman in franchise history.
• He now trails only Phil Housley (178 goals), one of the best offensive defensemen of all time.

“We know the second half (of the season) is important for us and this is how we want to play every night,” Dahlin said. “We’ve just got to continue to build on this.”

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Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has seen Dahlin elevate his game in recent weeks.

“I thought the Nashville game (on Feb. 8) was probably his best of the year,” Ruff said. “I thought he got even better tonight… Some of his breakout plays were real special.”

If Buffalo can replicate that level of play, they’ll be a tough opponent for Anaheim.

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What’s at Stake?

For Anaheim, this game is about keeping their playoff dream alive. With a showdown against Vancouver coming up on Thursday, grabbing two points in Buffalo would set up a must-watch battle against the Canucks.

For Buffalo, the goal is to build consistency and find a rhythm to finish the season strong.

With two teams hungry for wins and plenty of young talent on display, Tuesday night’s game has all the makings of a thrilling battle.