Jiri Kulich's goal in overtime gives Sabres a 3-2 victory over Ducks

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jiri Kulich scored with 59.4 seconds remaining in overtime and the Buffalo Sabres rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 Friday night.

Anaheim goaltender John Gibson stopped Buffalo defensemen Owen Power on a 2-on-1 breakaway, but Kulich put the rebound into the upper right corner of the net for his second goal of the season and snap the Ducks three-game winning streak.

Peyton Krebs and Jason Zucker scored for Buffalo, which has won two straight and three of its last four. Power had two assists and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves.

Anaheim's goals were scored by Drew Helleson and Isac Lundestrom. Gibson stopped 31 shots.

Sabres: Center Tage Thompson, who leads Buffalo with 11 goals and 18 points, missed his fourth straight game due to a lower-body injury. Coach Lindy Ruff said before Friday's game he is hopeful Thompson can return to the lineup Saturday night in San Jose.

Ducks: Trevor Zegras has three assists in the past two games.

Krebs and Zucker scored in a 50-second span late in the second period to even it at 2-all. It was the sixth time Buffalo has scored twice within a minute. The Capitals, Canucks, Hurricanes and Golden Knights have done it seven times while the Kings have also accomplished it six times.

Zucker, who scored with 33 seconds remaining, has goals in two straight games. Alex Tuch, who had the first assist on Krebs’ goal, has a point in five straight (one goal, six assists).

Buffalo had its seven-game, power-play goal streak snapped. It was the longest run of any team this season.

Sabres visit San Jose on Saturday and Ducks host Seattle on Monday.

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Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (9) and Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (38) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (38) checks Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton (75) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (43) celebrates after his goal with left wing Alex Killorn (17), and center Leo Carlsson (91) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) scores past Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton (75) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) blocks the shot by Anaheim Ducks right wing Brett Leason (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Buffalo Sabres players celebrate a goal by left wing Jason Zucker (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan — both former All-Stars — and second baseman Brendan Rodgers were among 62 players who became free agents Friday when their teams failed to offer 2025 contracts.

Right-hander Jordan Romano, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielders Michael Tauchman and Ramón Laureano also were among the players cut loose, including 36 who would have been eligible for salary arbitration.

Washington cut right-hander Tanner Rainey, its last remaining player from the 2019 World Series champions.

More than 20 players agreed to contracts ahead of the deadline, including San Francisco outfielder Mike Yastrzemski ($9.25 million), Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin ($5.4 million) and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham ($5 million).

Hays, 29, was an All-Star in 2023 when he hit .275 with 16 homers and 67 RBIs for Baltimore. He was traded to the Phillies last July 26 and batted .256 with two homers and six RBIs in 22 games while dealing with a kidney infection.

The 33-year-old Finnegan was an All-Star this year for Washington and finished with 38 saves.

In addition, Kansas City acquired second baseman Jonathan India, the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year, in a trade with Cincinnati to play alongside star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals also acquired outfielder Joey Wiemer while sending right-hander Brady Singer to Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh acquired reliever Peter Strzelecki from the Cleveland for cash.

The deadline marked the last time a team could drop an arbitration-eligible player without committing to at least 30 days of termination pay if the player is released. The flurry of cuts and contracts left 169 players eligible to exchange proposed arbitration salaries with their teams on Jan. 9.

Others reaching one-year deals were Baltimore third baseman Emmanuel Rivera ($1 million); Cleveland right-hander Ben Lively ($2.25 million) and left-hander Sam Hentges ($1,337,500); Detroit second baseman Zach McKinstry ($1.65 million) and third baseman Andy Ibáñez ($1.4 million); Minnesota right-hander Michael Tonkin ($1 million); Yankees right-hander JT Brubaker ($1.82 million); Texas right-handers Dane Dunning ($2.66 million) and Josh Sborz ($1.1 million); Chicago Cubs right-handers Julian Merryweather ($1,225,000) and Keegan Thompson ($850,000); Cincinnati infielder Santiago Espinal ($2.4 million); Colorado outfielder Sam Hilliard ($1 million); Milwaukee catcher Eric Haase ($1.35 million); New York Mets right-hander Sean Reid-Foley ($800,000 in majors, $386,375 in minors); Philadelphia right-hander José Ruiz ($1,255,000) and catcher Garrett Stubbs ($925,000 in majors, $450,000 in minors); and San Francisco right-hander Austin Warren ($785,000 in majors, $350,000 in minors)

Grisham can earn $250,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $50,000 each for 350 and each additional 50 through 550.

Ruiz can earn $45,000 in performance bonuses for games: $20,000 for 30 and $25,000 for 40.

Among players reaching one-year deals on Thursday were Dodgers right-hander Dustin May ($2,135,000), Cubs catcher Matt Thaiss ($1 million in majors, $400,000 in minors), Colorado left-hander Lucas Gilbreath ($785,000) and Washington right-hander Mason Thompson ($770,000 in majors, $374,600 in minors).

San Diego infielder/outfielder Tyler Wade agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract that includes an $850,000 salary this year and a $1 million team option for 2026 with a $50,000 buyout. Wade can earn $150,000 in performance bonuses each year for plate appearances: $25,000 each for 100 and 150, and $50,000 apiece for 200 and 250.

In addition, the Mets agreed to minor league contracts with first baseman Joey Meneses and catcher Jakson Reetz.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers follows the flight of his RBI single in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sept. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

FILE - Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan delivers during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

FILE - Philadelphia Phillies' Austin Hays takes an at-bat during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sept. 24, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)