Phil Housley finally got win No. 1 with the Sabres on Sunday in Anaheim.
Chad Johnson made 25 saves, Benoit Pouliot scored the go-ahead goal in the last minute of the second period and Buffalo beat the Ducks 3-1 for Housley’s first victory as an NHL coach.
“It feels great, obviously,” Housley said, “but I have to tip my hat to the guys in that locker room.”
Justin Bailey and Johan Larsson also scored for Buffalo, which had lost five straight to open Housley’s first season.
“We haven’t been playing our best hockey,” defenseman Jake McCabe said.