ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Goaltending is a big reason why the slow-starting Anaheim Ducks are suddenly challenging for a fourth straight Pacific Division title.
Frederik Andersen made 26 saves in his fourth career shutout, Sami Vatanen scored on a power play in the second period and the Ducks beat the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 on Wednesday night.
The Ducks equaled a season best with their sixth straight victory and climbed within two points of the division-leading Los Angeles Kings. Anaheim is 20-4-2 since losing back-to-back road games against the Islanders and Rangers on Dec. 21-22.
“It’s good, especially in a 1-0 game. You just want to make sure you get the win,” Andersen said after his first shutout since his 47-save effort on Jan. 27, 2015 at Vancouver.
“I got settled in pretty much right away. And the way we defended was pretty good. We didn’t really give too much to them. You’ve got to take the wins any way you can, but preferably you want to play solid defensively.”
Five of Anaheim’s six shutout wins have been by 1-0 scores, three of them by John Gibson and the other by Anton Khudobin.
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